Published on: 2026-10-22
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 22, 2026 Human Rights
Independent UN human rights experts on Thursday expressed concern over reports that European Union (EU) countries are deporting Afghan nationals back to their homeland. They reminded these countries of their obligations under international law, including the principle of non-refoulement.
“The human rights situation in Afghanistan remains extremely dire. Women and girls face gender-based persecution on such a scale and so systematically that it may qualify as crimes against humanity,” experts stated. According to them, torture and extrajudicial killings also threaten ethnic and religious minorities, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Former personnel of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, as well as certain government officials, also remain at risk.
The principle of non-refoulement prohibits expelling a person to a country where they face arbitrary deprivation of life, torture, arbitrary detention, or other serious human rights violations. Experts reminded that the corresponding obligations of countries are enshrined in the Convention Against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Status of Refugees, and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Before returning each person, states must individually assess the risks they face, they emphasized. According to them, diplomatic guarantees from the receiving state do not relieve countries of international obligations and should not serve as a loophole to bypass the principle of non-refoulement.
Engagement with the Taliban
Experts also warned against steps towards normalizing relations with the Taliban. They recalled that in June 2026 the European Commission officially received a Taliban delegation in Brussels for the first time. A representative of the European Commission called this meeting “technical,” while the head of the Taliban delegation called it “historic,” the statement says.
“We remain concerned that such engagement without clear ‘red lines’ regarding the need to improve the human rights situation leads to the normalization of gross human rights violations by the Taliban, including gender-based persecution,” emphasized human rights defenders. They noted that some European countries continue “technical negotiations” with the Taliban to prepare deportations and have already accepted their consular staff on their territory.
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Independent experts have called on EU countries to actively work towards improving the human rights situation in Afghanistan. They stressed that the normalization of relations with the Taliban or their legitimization is unacceptable without concrete progress. In particular, the ban on education for girls and women beyond the sixth grade must be lifted.
Experts have officially addressed this issue to the European Union and the governments of several EU member states.
The statement was signed by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants Gehad Madi, and the Special Rapporteur on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism Ben Saul, as well as members of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
Independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. Experts act in a personal capacity and independently of governments and any organizations.
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