The United Nations Security Council will convene in September to review the situation in Afghanistan, with UN envoy Roza Otunbayeva set to present her final report before completing her mandate. She will be joined by a civil society representative and the UN high commissioner for human rights in briefing the Council.
Council members described Afghanistan’s human rights record as “dire,” pointing in particular to the plight of women and girls. UNAMA’s latest findings detailed arbitrary arrests of women and other systemic abuses under Taliban rule.
Independent UN experts earlier this month called on the world to reject the Taliban’s authoritarian system and resist attempts to normalize the regime. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, said the Taliban have weaponized the justice system against women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
The Council also noted that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of gender-based crimes against humanity. UN Women has meanwhile warned that Afghan women face the risk of complete erasure from public life.
The humanitarian outlook remains bleak. More than 22 million Afghans are expected to need aid this year, while nearly 13 million were in crisis or emergency food insecurity in recent months. Forced deportations from Iran and Pakistan have worsened the crisis, with the IOM reporting over 1.5 million returns in 2025 alone.
At the same time, the Taliban continue efforts to break their isolation. Russia has recognized the group, and Kabul recently hosted a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan. UNAMA and the Doha process are exploring a political roadmap, though diplomats stressed that Taliban non-compliance, especially on women’s rights, remains a major obstacle.
The Council reiterated its concern about terrorism threats emanating from Afghanistan. While members agreed on the need for a peaceful, inclusive, and terror-free Afghanistan, the US, UK, and France maintained that legitimacy and aid cannot follow until the Taliban adhere to international commitments.
