The senior officials’ meeting on Afghanistan began today in Brussels, focusing on political stability and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
A high-level international meeting on Afghanistan began early Monday in Brussels, hosted by the European Union. Key regional and global stakeholders are attending the session.
The conference, scheduled for June 16 and 17, aims to develop coordinated responses and policy alignment among international actors regarding Afghanistan’s future.
Among the prominent participants is Mary Beth Bishop, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan, alongside representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and UNAMA’s political deputy.
The agenda focuses on two core issues: Afghanistan’s deteriorating political landscape and the worsening humanitarian crisis affecting millions of vulnerable civilians across the country.
This meeting comes amid rising concerns over food insecurity, restricted women’s rights, and limited humanitarian access under Taliban rule, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also launched consultations on its new “Mosaic Approach” to better engage diverse Afghanistan’s political actors and civil society groups.
EU officials emphasized the urgency of sustained international engagement to prevent Afghanistan’s isolation and to protect basic rights and humanitarian needs.
Analysts suggest this meeting may shape the next phase of global diplomatic strategy toward Afghanistan, especially if inclusive governance and aid access are prioritized.
Senior Officials’ Meeting on Afghanistan begins today in Brussels
Over 10 countries condemned Afghanistan’s human rights violations, urging international accountability and justice, especially for women, vulnerable groups, and marginalized communities.
Representatives from over 10 countries condemned ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly against women, during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council held on June 16, 2025. The meeting featured a detailed briefing by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, who presented his latest report focusing on justice access and the protection of women and girls.
Countries including Canada, Italy, Indonesia, Qatar, Ireland, South Africa, and Switzerland voiced deep concerns about the systematic suppression of women’s rights and gender-based violence under the Taliban regime. Delegates called for greater international accountability and urged the Taliban to cease public executions and oppressive policies.
Several member states reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan’s women and girls, pledging assistance in the areas of education and capacity-building. Some nations also highlighted the need for long-term strategies to empower Afghanistan civil society actors and human rights defenders.
Bennett’s report emphasized that the Taliban’s judicial system has facilitated widespread repression, eliminating avenues for women to seek justice. He highlighted the expansion of gender-based discrimination, forced marriages, and bans on education and employment for women and girls as core concerns.
Speakers also raised alarms about the safety and rights of other marginalized groups in Afghanistan, including LGBTQ+ individuals, the Hazara community, and other religious minorities. Multiple representatives stressed the importance of protecting these vulnerable populations from state-sponsored persecution.
This session reflected growing global frustration over the Taliban’s disregard for international human rights obligations. The consensus was clear: failure to uphold the rights of women and vuneriable groups is a breach of fundamental human values and must not go unchallenged.
Countries and international organizations are expected to increase diplomatic pressure, expand humanitarian aid targeting women and vulnerable communities, and document violations for potential international legal action. As the situation worsens, the need for coordinated global advocacy and support for Afghanistan’s citizens becomes increasingly urgent.
Over 10 nations call out Afghanistan’s Human Rights Abuses
The UN Human Rights Chief warned that women in Afghanistan have been systematically removed from public life, facing severe restrictions and discrimination.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned about the deteriorating condition of Afghan women during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Speaking on Monday, June 16, Türk stated that women and girls in Afghanistan have been “erased from public life” under the current authorities, raising global concern.
He further emphasized that LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities also face grave threats in Afghanistan, calling for greater international attention to their protection and rights.
Türk also expressed concern over shrinking international support, noting that some countries have reduced humanitarian funding for Afghan women at a time of growing vulnerability.
Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, presented his latest report focusing on access to justice and protections for Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule.
Bennett reiterated that the situation for Afghan women has worsened and urged the creation of a new, independent accountability mechanism to address ongoing human rights abuses.
The UN officials’ remarks come amid continued global alarm over systematic gender apartheid in Afghanistan, where women face bans on education, work, and free movement.
With little accountability in place, human rights experts argue that without strong international mechanisms and consistent pressure, the situation is likely to deteriorate further for women in Afghanistan.
UN rights chief: Women removed from Public Life in Afghanistan
According to the Nangarhar Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation, approximately 770 families were deported via Torkham last week.
Over the past week, Pakistan forcibly repatriated around 770 Afghan families through the Torkham crossing.
According to the Nangarhar Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation, approximately 770 families were deported via Torkham last week. These families received initial assistance and were then transported to their respective provinces.
Baz Mohammad Abdul Rahman, head of the Nangarhar Refugees and Repatriation Department, stated: “Among them were 338 families with PoR (Proof of Registration) cards, comprising 1,905 individuals, and 491 undocumented families, totaling 2,279 individuals.”
Fifty-year-old Firdaws is one of those recently deported by Pakistani police. He says all his belongings were left behind.
He explained: “When the situation worsened, we had to flee. We left behind a fully furnished house and crops ready for harvest. Someone gave me 15,000 rupees for transportation out of goodwill.”
Like Firdaws, many other recently deported Afghans shared their eyewitness accounts of the mistreatment they faced in Pakistan.
Another deportee, Habibullah, said: “We suffered significant losses. Some lost as much as one million rupees. We left behind fresh fruits, pushcarts, and even tractors.”
Rahman Gul, who was also deported, stated: “We were expelled in a terrible situation. They didn’t even let us explain ourselves. I lost my harvest, and I didn’t have money for the fare — someone else paid it for me.”
On Friday, June 14 (24th of Jawza), Pakistani authorities handed over 125 Afghan prisoners to Afghan officials at the Torkham crossing.
800 Afghan Families Deported from Pakistan in Past Week
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy has stated that the continuation of these tensions could seriously affect regional stability.
In a volatile period in Iran-Israel relations, Afghanistan is striving to maintain a realistic outlook and a balanced policy to stay out of the conflict’s reach.
The Islamic Emirate is attempting to adopt a cautious stance: on one hand, expressing support for Iran, and on the other, distancing itself from direct involvement in the conflict.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy has stated that the continuation of these tensions could seriously affect regional stability.
Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister for technical affairs at the Ministry of Economy, said: “The policy of the Islamic Emirate is to support peace and lasting stability in the region. The Islamic Emirate believes that all countries must respect the national sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of other nations in accordance with the UN Charter.”
Abdul Haq Hamad, a political affairs expert, said: “As the Islamic Emirate has declared, it condemns Israel’s attack on Iran, and believes that Iran has a legitimate right to defend itself. Furthermore, as a neighboring country, the Islamic Emirate will try to assist to the extent possible.”
Experts warn that if tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, regional proxy groups will become more active, increasing the risk of the conflict spilling over into neighboring countries—including Afghanistan.
Zaki Mohammadi, a political affairs analyst, stated: “If the war between Iran and Israel continues, numerous proxy groups will emerge in the region and be allowed to operate. Many of these groups will be motivated, and individuals on the run may exploit the situation. This could harm both Afghanistan and Iran.”
Mohammad Idris Zazai, another political expert, said: “If tensions between Iran and Israel intensify, neighboring countries of Afghanistan will also face greater political and economic challenges.”
Since the Islamic Emirate came to power, formal relations between Kabul and Tehran have entered a new phase.
While Iran has initiated limited engagement with the caretaker government, it has not yet officially recognized it. During this period, topics such as the status of Afghan migrants, border trade, Helmand water rights, and border security have been the focus of bilateral discussions.
The end of the Islamic Republic was a catastrophe for Afghanistan’s human rights movement, with nearly all human rights defenders thrown into exile, fearing for their lives. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) combines an austere interpretation of Islam with ultra-conservative social mores, resulting in a highly authoritarian state with strict laws and practices. While the Islamic Republic had a deeply authoritarian streak, silencing criticism of its human rights abuses and corruption, it was relatively permissive compared to the Emirate. For most Afghan human rights defenders, working openly in Afghanistan is no longer possible. Many have continued their work from abroad, but the country’s new rulers seem impervious to change. Despite this, a new wave of women’s rights defenders emerged in spontaneous protests around the country, while other Afghans have found more clandestine or creative ways to work. AAN’s Rachel Reid has been speaking to human rights defenders about adaptation and survival in the new era. You can preview the report online and download it by clicking here or the download button below.
The victory of the Taliban insurgency in 2021 triggered a great rupture in Afghanistan’s human rights movement. Almost overnight, nearly all the prominent human rights defenders were forced into exile. The repression and authoritarianism of the Emirate has shrunk the space available for human rights work, making it more difficult – but not impossible.
This AAN thematic report looks at the state of the Afghan human rights movement before and after the Taliban takeover in 2021. It highlights how the operating environment for civil society has been flattened by a host of repressive policy edicts and laws which are rigorously implemented by the IEA, its intelligence agency, police and enforcers from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Freedom of expression and assembly have all but evaporated. Women’s lives are subject to the greatest control, with diktats even proscribing them speaking in loud voices or singing.
The IEA’s repressive tendencies combine religious and cultural conservativism imbued with very hierarchical authoritarianism. For human rights defenders, this mix is a catastrophe. From their current vantage point, it would be easy to idealise the Republic era, which was far from ideal – rife with corruption, high levels of risks and obstruction – it did nevertheless allow some room for legal reform, public advocacy and international support. The Emirate has codified its most patriarchal and authoritarian impulses into law, enforcing them through an effective apparatus of surveillance and punishment. For most human rights defenders, this meant that direct advocacy with the authorities, visible forms of documentation and traditional campaigning have largely disappeared.
In the face of this, some human rights defenders have found new networks and new ways of working both inside Afghanistan and from exile, building digital campaigns, lobbying to hold back the ‘normalisation’ of the Islamic Emirateand pursuing accountability through universal jurisdiction and institutions like the International Criminal Court. Others have found crevices in an authoritarian façade where work can be done, sometimes under the radar, often at the local level, sometimes through interlocutors. New voices have emerged, including from the spontaneous eruption of female protestors from diverse backgrounds with a clear political message, exemplified by the slogan: Nan, Kar, Azadi (Bread, Work, Freedom). Despite the risks, they chose resistance and disruption and are still making their presence felt, even if their ability to take to the streets has been forcibly blocked.
The Afghan human rights movement has been battered since the fall of the Republic, but human rights work is often an act of hope against the odds. The defenders featured in this report are adjusting their expectations, recognising that the path to justice will be long, uneven, and marked by painful setbacks. Yet they continue, not because victory is assured, but because the alternative –silence and surrender – is unthinkable. This report sheds light on their continuing struggle – and their enduring hope.
Edited by Kate Clark and Roxanna Shapour
You can preview the report online and download it by clicking here or the download button below.
The day Ranjit’s daughter was born, he distributed sweets to the entire village – not just because he was thrilled to be a father for the first time, but because he was father to a girl. “God heard my heart and granted my wish,” he says. His devotion to baby Kiran* was immediate and unshakeable. He would rush home from his work in the fields to spend time caring for her.
Millions of fathers around the world will relate to the joy Ranjit felt, but in deeply patriarchal rural India publicly celebrating the arrival of a girl is an unusual, even defiant, act.
Ranjit’s love for and faith in Kiran is captured in the film To Kill A Tiger, which follows the poor rice farmer as he pursues justice for his daughter after she was gang-raped aged 13. Kiran is determined to see her attackers in court and Ranjit is determined to support her.
Quietly but doggedly, he refuses to give up even in the face of threats and ostracism from his community. He credits Kiran and his wife, Jaganti, for giving him the strength to keep going.
From left to right Mona Sinha, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Nisha Pahuja, and Ranjit speak during a special screening of To Kill a Tiger.
After a screening of the film this year in New York, Ranjit and Kiran were joined by another supporter of an extraordinary daughter: Ziauddin Yousafzai, better known as Malala’s father. The screening was used to launch #StandWithHer, a global gender-justice campaign to support survivors of sexual violence.
At the time, Yousafzai spoke of Ranjit as “a man all men should be proud of – the father all fathers should look up to”.
On Sunday, a short film is being released of the two men in conversation, discussing fatherhood, courage and their commitment to seeing their daughters become independent young women despite the social and political barriers they face.
Nisha Pahuja, To Kill A Tiger’s director and founder of #StandWithHer, says the film marks the start of a wider drive to invite men and boys to discuss the ways patriarchy limits both sexes.
“Power comes at a cost – not just to women and girls, but also, to men and boys,” says Pahuja. “There is of course no denying the obvious, material benefits of this power imbalance or the violence it has permitted, but there’s also no denying the suffering of men and boys.
“It’s so clear today that men and boys are struggling to define themselves. I do feel Zia and Ranjit are powerful, unapologetic role models here.”
Yousafzai describes how Malala was named after a 19th-century Afghan heroine “because there was power in this name”. He says he knew it would suit her. “In my mind, I associated a girl with strength, and I thought if I had a daughter she will be strong; she will have her own voice and she will be known by her name.”
Yousafzai was adamant his daughter would be educated – something his own mother and five sisters had been denied. “Education was the front door and it had to stay open,” he tells Ranjit.
He recalls how he used to invite Malala to join discussions and debates with friends at home because he recognised that she had a great mind and always had something to contribute. Malala, he says, was not just a daughter but a “comrade and a friend”, so when, in 2012, she was shot in the head by the Taliban for standing up for her right to go to school, losing her was unthinkable.
When she survived the attack and became a global advocate for education, Yousafzai campaigned alongside her. They are “one soul in two bodies”, he says. His nickname for her, Jaani, means soulmate.
After Kiran was assaulted, Ranjit was expected to marry her off to one of her attackers – a common response to sexual violence that insists women and girls can only rid themselves of shame by becoming wives. Ranjit and Kiran refused to accept that shame and instead placed it squarely on the perpetrators. “A real, caring father puts his daughter first,” he says.
A still from the film To Kill a Tiger showing Ranjit and his wife Jaganti and their lawyer Lakhan Lal. Photograph: Notice Pictures/NFB
Yousafzai says he sees Malala in Kiran. “It is as if Malala appears in front of me. Her voice will be a step against extremism, a step against violence; it already is.”
The campaign, he adds, will spread the message that men should be allies, using their privilege to challenge long-held beliefs. “Every father, every brother: all men must stand with women.”
Resistance and change start at home, he says. “This institution of the family is an agent of change, an informal one … there’s no force more powerful than the family.”
Ranjit agrees. “We can convince men; it needs to enter their minds. As more and more people come together, I feel it will definitely have an impact on men and boys.”
* Kiran is a pseudonym
Malala and Kiran faced violence, threats and shame. Now their fathers want ‘all men to stand with women’
A clash between Taliban fighters and Pakistani troops in Kunar’s Shigal district near the Durand Line resulted in two fatalities.
Local sources in Kunar province report that two Taliban fighters were killed in an armed clash with Pakistani soldiers. The incident occurred in the Takht-e-Khor area of the Shigal district, located near the Durand Line on Sunday, June 15.
The sources revealed that the clash erupted when Pakistani forces attempted to establish a new security post in the region. The Taliban fighters, identified as Shir Alam and Musi, were killed as a result of gunfire from the Pakistani soldiers.
Local officials in Kunar have not yet commented on the skirmish. This latest incident adds to the growing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistani forces, particularly in the border provinces of Afghanistan.
Given the ongoing instability in the area, the situation remains tense, with concerns over the future of border security and the potential for further conflict between the two sides.
The ongoing skirmishes between the Taliban and Pakistan, like the recent clash in Kunar, underscore the fragile relationship between the two. These border conflicts, often driven by territorial disputes and conflicting strategic interests, jeopardize regional stability.
Such incidents strain diplomatic relations and complicate efforts for cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The continued tensions could impede peace and security in the region, highlighting the need for better dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms.
Clash between Taliban and Pakistani troops in Kunar leaves two dead
The 59th UN Human Rights Council session will address Afghanistan’s human rights situation, focusing on gender discrimination and apartheid.
The 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will commence on Monday, June 16 in Geneva. The agenda for this session includes a review of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, based on the recent report by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan.
Human rights activists are urging the international community to pay special attention to the complex and critical human rights issues in Afghanistan. The session, running from June 16 to July 9, meets every four months or three times annually to address significant human rights concerns worldwide.
The latest report by Richard Bennett, titled “Access to Justice and Support for Women and Girls and the Impact of Multiple and Intersectional Forms of Discrimination,” highlights the severe situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The report describes their condition as a form of apartheid or gender discrimination and calls for such apartheid to be recognized as an international crime.
Human rights activists expect the session to give particular attention to the critical human rights situation in Afghanistan, given its worsening state. The call for action is becoming increasingly urgent, with concerns about systemic discrimination and the oppression of women and minorities.
Sima Nouri, a prominent human rights advocate, has proposed the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to document crimes in Afghanistan under the current regime, including gender apartheid, ethnic killings, violence against minorities, and the suppression of civil protests.
She advocates for referring Afghanistan’s case to the International Court of Justice through the UN Security Council and calls for a comprehensive political plan that genuinely includes the people of Afghanistan.
The return of the Taliban to power has been marked by severe restrictions on women’s rights, ranging from bans on work and education to limits on free movement. Many observers and activists view these measures as clear evidence of a human rights crisis in Afghanistan, reflecting the systemic nature of gender apartheid.
There is an international push for accountability and justice, as the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan continue to spark global outrage. The call for a collective response, involving both diplomatic pressure and legal accountability, grows louder, urging the UN to take more decisive action.
The session is expected to highlight the urgent need for intervention and strategic diplomatic engagement to address Afghanistan’s ongoing human rights violations and to ensure the protection of its citizens, particularly women and vulnerable minorities.
UN to Address Afghanistan’s Human Rights Crisis at Upcoming Session
Iran, as a neighboring country to Afghanistan, hosts approximately six million Afghan migrants, according to current data.
As Israeli attacks on several Iranian cities intensify, the Islamic Emirate has announced that it is in contact with Iranian officials to ensure the safety of Afghan migrants and to address their concerns.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “We hope, God willing, that the migrants will not be harmed and that the situation remains under control. Nevertheless, we are in contact with all relevant officials and institutions, and if problems arise, we will explore possible solutions.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has urged Afghan nationals residing in Iran to avoid sensitive military sites, political gatherings, and party-related activities.
Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, stated: “We urge Afghan migrants abroad to stay away from sensitive locations, refrain from attending political gatherings, and avoid making irresponsible public comments.”
Hadi Hasani, an Afghan citizen living in Iran, said: “In the past two days of ongoing war, the situation for migrants has deteriorated. Continued conflict will further negatively affect livelihoods and businesses.”
Iran, as a neighboring country to Afghanistan, hosts approximately six million Afghan migrants, according to current data.
In recent days, mistreatment of Afghan migrants and forced deportations have also sharply increased in Iran.
Mujahid: We Are Coordinating With Iran to Protect Afghan Migrants
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
