The series of deadly earthquakes and the possibility of massive involuntary returns, all increase the need for urgent action to avoid further suffering and potential instability, said Richard Bennett.
“A grim picture has emerged, providing a glimpse of what lies ahead for the human rights of many Afghans, especially women and girls, and also for other group including human rights defenders, journalists, ethnic and linguistic minorities, LGBTI people, people with disabilities, former government officials and military and security personnel,” he added.
‘Perfect storm’ of challenges
Presenting his report to the General Assembly, Mr. Bennett urged the international community to provide more aid to the troubled region of Herat, devastated by recent earthquakes.
“There is a culture of impunity for torture and inhumane treatment in detentions, as well as human rights violations against former government officials and military personnel, despite promises made to the contrary,” he said. .
The Special Rapporteur alerted the General Assembly to the ongoing detention of Afghans exercising their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, including human rights defenders.
The rapporteurs and other experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council do not receive any salary for their work, serve in their individual capacity and are independent of any government.
The fact that women and children account for nearly 90 percent of those killed is largely due to the restrictions placed on them under Taliban rule, which keeps them confined to a life inside the home, according to UN Development Program (UNDP).
The UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, Stephen Rodriques, spoke UN news more than an interview.
Sudan humanitarian crisis worsens; more than 5.6 million were displaced
More than six months since the conflict broke out in Sudan, more than 5.6 million people have fled their homes and 25 million need assistance to survive, in what has become “one of the fastest growing humanitarian crisis”.
The top humanitarian official of the UN in the country, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, shared the dire update on Tuesday; he stressed that “the longer this fight continues, the more damaging its impact will be”.
More than 4.2 million girls and women are at risk of gender-based violence, Ms. Nkweta-Salami said, and one out of every three children does not have access to school.
The UN official emphasized that since the beginning of the crisis, the UN and its partners have delivered food to three million people in 17 of Sudan’s 18 states, providing safe drinking water to more than two million people and health supplies to three million women and children.
“They also receive and record reports of human rights violations and abuses”, he said.
In the call to Sudan’s military rivals to “stop the fighting”, Ms. Nkweta-Salami to commit to “a lasting cessation of hostilities, comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians, and provide safe humanitarian. access to those in need”.
Australia: ‘No’ vote to recognize Indigenous Peoples a ‘missed opportunity’: Türk
In Australia, the failure of a referendum to enshrine the recognition of Indigenous Peoples in the constitution is a “missed opportunity”, UN rights chief Volker Türk said on Tuesday.
Mr. Türk spoke after Australians decided in a 14 October referendum not to officially recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the country’s Constitution.
More than 60 per cent of Australian voters and a majority in all six states voted ‘No’ to the proposals.
While he blamed “fear, misinformation and disinformation” for the anti-vote campaign, the UN rights chief stressed the importance of a domestic debate on “the isolation and disadvantage suffered by Indigenous Peoples”.
“The realization of the rights of equality, self-determination and participation of Indigenous peoples in decisions that affect them, including through their self-governing bodies, remains central to Australia’s future – and is strengthened- on Australia’s international human rights obligations,” Mr. Türk said.
He called on the country’s political leaders to “work to unite rather than divide” the population on this issue and to step up efforts to address the continued exclusion and disadvantage of Australia’s First Peoples.