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.

Over 100,000 Afghans now reside in France, benefiting from protective asylum policies amid rising migration since the Taliban takeover.

In an interview with InfoMigrants on June 12, Leschi noted that Afghans have consistently ranked among the top ten nationalities holding long-term residency in France over the past decade. Their presence has grown steadily, particularly after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

According to Leschi, Afghan refugees in France benefit from a relatively protective asylum system. He explained that while most Afghan asylum seekers are low-educated young men, a significant proportion of Afghan women arriving in France possess higher education, indicating a diverse demographic profile within the community.

He further added that in 2014, only 472 asylum applications were submitted by Afghans, but this number surged to over 17,500 in 2023, illustrating a dramatic rise in migration in the wake of Afghanistan’s political and humanitarian crisis.

As France continues to manage this demographic shift, the government is expected to balance humanitarian obligations with integration policies, ensuring safety and opportunity for Afghans, while maintaining social cohesion.

Over 10 million Afghans are displaced, UNHCR reports, as global forced migration reaches 122 million due to conflict and persecution.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that the number of people forcibly displaced by war, violence, and persecution worldwide has surpassed 122 million. The figure, released on Thursday in the agency’s annual report, marks a sharp increase of 2 million compared to the previous year and has nearly doubled over the past decade.

According to the report, over 10 million Afghans have been forcibly displaced, making Afghanistan one of the top three countries contributing to the global refugee and internally displaced population. The situation in Afghanistan remains dire due to a mix of long-standing conflict, economic instability, and recurring natural disasters such as drought.

Sudan currently accounts for the highest number of displaced people globally, with more than 14 million individuals affected. Syria follows with 13.5 million, Afghanistan with 10.3 million, and Ukraine with around 8.8 million, reflecting the ongoing toll of protracted crises and wars on civilian populations.

Afghanistan has faced more than forty years of war, from the Soviet invasion to civil war, U.S. intervention, and the Taliban’s return. These conflicts have forced millions to flee, mostly to Iran, Pakistan, and parts of Europe.

The UNHCR warns that recent forced repatriations of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan are occurring under unsafe conditions. Thousands are being returned daily despite political instability and lack of infrastructure to support their reintegration.

With limited access to basic services, housing, and employment, returning Afghans face extreme vulnerability. The international community is urged to address the root causes of displacement and provide adequate support to both displaced populations and host countries.