In a statement issued in Geneva, the UN human rights office said its Sudan monitoring team had determined that drone attacks accounted for more than 80 percent of all conflict-related civilian deaths recorded during the first four months of 2026.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the rapid expansion of drone warfare had transformed the nature of the conflict.“Armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths,” Turk said.

The warning underscores escalating concerns among humanitarian agencies and international observers over the intensifying use of unmanned aerial systems in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has devastated large parts of the country, displaced millions of civilians and triggered what aid organizations describe as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.The UN did not specify which parties were responsible for the drone strikes cited in its report, but rights monitors have repeatedly warned that the growing availability of armed drone technology has widened the scale and reach of attacks on populated areas.

Human rights officials cautioned that the increasing reliance on drones risked accelerating civilian casualties while further complicating efforts to secure ceasefires or humanitarian access.

Sudan’s capital Khartoum and several regions including Darfur have witnessed heavy fighting, air strikes and widespread destruction since the war began, with repeated allegations of violations of international humanitarian law by both sides.

International mediation efforts led by regional powers, the African Union and the United Nations have so far failed to produce a durable ceasefire.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at least nine of those executed were linked to protests that shook Iran in January 2026, while 10 others were put to death for alleged membership in opposition groups and two were executed on spying charges.

The agency said many of those detained had been subjected to enforced disappearances, torture and what it described as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including forced confessions, some of which were later broadcast publicly, as well as mock executions.

“I am appalled that on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.

“In times of war, threats to human rights increase exponentially. Yet even where national security is invoked, human rights can only be limited where strictly necessary and proportionate,” he said.Turk called on Iranian authorities to halt further executions, establish a moratorium on the death penalty, ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.

OHCHR said many people, including minors, remain at risk of capital punishment because of Iran’s broad interpretation of national security offenses. It said judicial proceedings were often accelerated and some death sentences, including those of at least nine executed protesters, were reportedly based on coerced confessions.

The agency also raised concerns over the transfer of dozens of prisoners, including prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, to undisclosed locations.Iran remains one of the world’s leading users of capital punishment and executes more people annually than any country except China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

Turk also criticized prison conditions across Iran, describing them as dire, with overcrowding and severe shortages of food, water, hygiene supplies, medicine and access to medical care.In Chabahar prison on March 18, detainees protesting the prolonged suspension of food distribution were reportedly met with lethal force.

OHCHR said security forces killed at least five prisoners and injured 21 others after confronting demonstrators inside the prison.The agency further said internet access in Iran had been almost completely shut down for 61 consecutive days, describing it as one of the longest nationwide shutdowns ever recorded.

“This is denying people across the country access to vital information, silencing independent voices, and inflicting enormous social and economic harm,” Turk said.He said the restrictions were worsening an already fragile humanitarian and economic situation and urged authorities to restore access immediately.

Survivors of torture from multiple regions are advocating for the adoption of a new international framework aimed at strengthening accountability, rehabilitation, and recognition, as the United Nations intensifies efforts to address gaps in justice systems worldwide.

The proposed Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture, developed over three years through consultations and regional hearings, was presented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council in March 2026 by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards.

The document outlines standards intended to guide states in addressing the long-term consequences of torture, with a focus on survivor participation and access to justice.The charter draws on more than 120 submissions from survivors globally and reflects recurring patterns identified across different regions.

According to Edwards, survivors frequently face a second phase of hardship after the abuse itself, marked by difficulties in securing recognition, accessing healthcare, and navigating complex legal systems.“Many described a second struggle: to be believed, to access care, to navigate complex institutions, and to obtain legal recognition,” Edwards said, adding that institutional barriers often prolong suffering rather than alleviate it.

The initiative has been supported by organizations working with survivors, including those funded through the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. It seeks to shift the focus of anti-torture frameworks toward long-term recovery and systemic reform, rather than solely prohibition and punishment.

For survivors such as Shireen Khudeeda, a Yazidi woman abducted during the 2014 attacks by Islamic State in Iraq’s Sinjar region, the consequences of torture extend far beyond physical harm. Held in captivity for three years and subjected to severe abuse, Khudeeda now advocates for justice, including the identification of mass graves and support for affected communities.

“Sometimes when it’s physical you can treat it, but torture in your soul you can never heal it,” she said, reflecting on the enduring psychological impact of her experience.More than a decade after the attacks, many Yazidi families remain without closure, with missing relatives yet to be accounted for.

Khudeeda said that even when answers emerge, they can reignite trauma, citing the identification of her father’s remains as a moment that brought both confirmation and renewed grief.In Mexico, Italia Méndez, a survivor of sexual torture during a 2006 police operation in San Salvador Atenco, continues to pursue justice nearly two decades after the events. Her case, along with those of other women, was recognized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2018.

Despite this ruling, Méndez said access to adequate medical care and reparations remains limited.“We have a binding judgment and yet we still have not been able to access even the most basic thing, which is dignified and specialised medical care,” she said, describing ongoing challenges in receiving treatment for the long-term effects of torture.

Méndez emphasized that her advocacy is collective, reflecting a broader effort by survivors to prevent recurrence and address systemic impunity. She said continued legal action remains necessary to secure accountability and meaningful redress.In Burundi, Donatien Ndabigeze, a survivor of political violence linked to the 2015 crisis, has pursued justice through international mechanisms.

His case was recognized by the UN Committee Against Torture, which found the state responsible for violations. Ndabigeze said the decision affirmed the severity of the abuses and underscored the importance of international accountability mechanisms.“My case is not only personal; it reflects the situation of many Burundians,” he said, adding that access to justice often requires engagement beyond national systems when domestic remedies are unavailable.

The experiences of these survivors illustrate broader structural challenges identified in the charter. Edwards noted that justice processes are often fragmented and slow, with accountability typically achieved through cumulative efforts involving documentation, litigation, and sustained advocacy.“Accountability rarely happens through a single dramatic moment. It is usually cumulative,” she said.

The charter emphasizes that survivors should play an active role in shaping policies and institutions designed to address torture. It calls for their inclusion not only as witnesses but as stakeholders in decision-making processes, reflecting a shift toward participatory approaches in human rights governance.“Survivors are not merely witnesses to atrocity.

They are rights-holders, advocates and architects of positive change,” Edwards said, cautioning against tokenistic engagement that limits participation to symbolic gestures.For Méndez, the initiative represents a significant step toward recognizing the expertise of survivors. She said incorporating their perspectives into policy design is essential to ensuring that justice mechanisms are responsive and effective.

The charter outlines key areas for reform, including ensuring access to rehabilitation services, strengthening legal recognition, preventing re-traumatization, and establishing safeguards to avoid recurrence. It also underscores the need for systems that restore dignity and rebuild trust between individuals and institutions.

Khudeeda said that speaking out is a necessary part of that process, particularly for communities that have experienced large-scale atrocities. “Because we lost everything, there is nothing else to lose,” she said, describing advocacy as a means of demanding accountability and recognition.

Ndabigeze similarly highlighted the importance of visibility, noting that survivor testimony can challenge societal silence and bring attention to the human impact behind statistical data.The charter is intended as a practical framework for states, with proponents urging governments to adopt and implement its provisions.

Edwards said that embedding survivor perspectives into policy design could improve both prevention and response mechanisms.“If the Charter were implemented, survivors would no longer feel invisible,” she said, adding that timely access to rehabilitation and meaningful participation would strengthen trust in institutions.The initiative comes amid broader international efforts to enhance accountability for human rights violations and improve support systems for victims. By centring the experiences of survivors, the charter aims to address longstanding gaps in justice systems and reinforce global commitments to preventing torture and supporting those affected by it.

“Justice after torture restores dignity — and only when trust is rebuilt can societies prosper and thrive,” Edwards said.

Kyrgyzstan has reaffirmed its commitment to abolishing the death penalty following a period of intense public debate triggered by a high-profile criminal case, with authorities and international partners emphasizing prevention and rule-of-law reforms as more effective responses to violent crime.

The debate emerged after the rape and murder of a young girl in September 2025, which prompted widespread public outrage and calls for the reinstatement of capital punishment. The issue quickly gained political traction, culminating in a formal proposal by President Sadyr Japarov to seek a constitutional review of whether the death penalty could be reintroduced.

The Constitutional Court delivered its ruling on 10 December 2025, concluding that reinstating capital punishment would violate Kyrgyzstan’s international treaty obligations, which are embedded within its constitutional framework. The decision effectively blocked any immediate return to the death penalty and reinforced the country’s legal commitments under international law.

Kyrgyzstan has maintained a moratorium on executions since 1998 and formally abolished the death penalty in 2010 following its ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The protocol obliges signatory states to take all necessary measures to prevent the reintroduction of capital punishment.

The United Nations human rights office played a consultative role throughout the process. According to Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for Central Asia, the office engaged with both executive and judicial authorities to provide guidance on international legal standards and treaty obligations.

“It is positive to see that despite an initiative that appeared to have strong public backing but did not comply with international obligations, the rule of law approach ultimately prevailed in Kyrgyzstan,” Bogner said.The episode has also prompted broader discussions within the country about the nature of justice, particularly in cases involving serious violent crime.

While public sentiment in the aftermath of the incident favored harsher punitive measures, international human rights officials have argued that such approaches are not supported by evidence as effective deterrents.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that while the crimes cited by authorities were “clearly appalling” and required accountability, there is no empirical basis to conclude that capital punishment reduces the incidence of serious offenses.

He called instead for responses grounded in prevention, victim protection, and institutional strengthening.Türk emphasized the need for a “well-resourced, victim-centred approach” to tackling violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.

This approach, he said, should focus on improving access to justice and ensuring that systems are capable of responding effectively to early warning signs.Bogner echoed this perspective, noting that a predictable and consistent rule-of-law framework is more effective in preventing violence than reintroducing capital punishment into a system that may lack uniformity in enforcement. “A rule of law process that is predictable is a better form of prevention of egregious cases,” she said.

The focus on prevention has translated into ongoing institutional reforms. The UN human rights office is working with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to develop a new risk assessment system aimed at strengthening early intervention in cases of gender-based violence. The system is intended to enable law enforcement agencies to identify potential risks, monitor evolving situations, and take timely action to prevent escalation.

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have also reiterated their commitment to upholding international legal standards following the Constitutional Court’s decision. Officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have emphasized the importance of maintaining adherence to the rule of law while addressing public concerns over safety and justice.

The case highlights the challenges faced by governments in balancing public demand for punitive measures with international legal obligations and evidence-based policy approaches. It also underscores the broader shift in international human rights discourse toward prevention-focused strategies, particularly in addressing gender-based violence.

Efforts to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks are seen as critical to improving outcomes for victims. This includes ensuring that police and judicial systems are adequately resourced, capable of responding promptly to complaints, and equipped to handle sensitive cases involving women and girls.

The UN human rights office has indicated that its engagement with Kyrgyz authorities will continue, with a focus on building systems that prioritize accountability and prevention. The approach aligns with broader international efforts to address gender-based violence through structural reforms rather than punitive escalation.

The developments in Kyrgyzstan reflect an evolving policy stance in which adherence to international obligations and evidence-based approaches are being prioritized over retributive measures, even in the face of strong public pressure following serious criminal incidents.

Environmental degradation and systemic inequality are leaving billions of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to a United Nations policy brief that underscores the growing intersection between climate pressures, public health risks, and human rights obligations.

The brief, prepared by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of UN-Water, estimates that around 2.1 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion do not have access to safely managed sanitation services.

The findings are intended to guide policymakers and government authorities in designing laws and strategies that address water scarcity and environmental stress through a human rights-based framework.Under international human rights law, states are required to ensure that water and sanitation services are available, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and of adequate quality.

These obligations are central to maintaining public health, supporting livelihoods, and ensuring a basic standard of dignity.Despite these commitments, the report highlights persistent and widespread gaps in service delivery. More than 1,000 children under the age of five die each day from diseases linked to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.

The burden of water access also falls disproportionately on women and girls, who collectively spend an estimated 250 million hours daily collecting water, often under conditions that expose them to physical risk and limit opportunities for education and employment.

The report identifies chronic underinvestment in the water and sanitation sector as a major constraint, noting that funding levels remain insufficient relative to the scale of the challenge. This underinvestment comes despite the sector’s critical role in climate resilience, economic development, and disease prevention.

According to the brief, environmental degradation is compounding existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. Groups identified as particularly vulnerable include women and girls, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, people living in poverty, and those displaced by conflict or environmental stress.

“For many, the denial of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a result, not of scarcity alone, but of exclusion and inaccessibility woven into institutions and infrastructure,” the report states, highlighting structural barriers that limit equitable access.The document also draws attention to emerging and conflict-related threats to water security.

It notes that water infrastructure has increasingly been targeted in armed conflicts, in violation of international humanitarian law. In Gaza, the destruction of desalination facilities and damage to water systems has forced civilians to rely on contaminated supplies. In Sudan, attacks on water and electricity infrastructure have disrupted access for millions, while in Yemen, sanitation facilities supported by international organizations have been struck by airstrikes.

In addition to conflict-related risks, the brief identifies new pressures linked to technological and industrial expansion. The rapid growth of data centres, for example, is emerging as a significant but often overlooked source of water consumption. A single one-megawatt data centre can require more than 25 million litres of water annually for cooling, an amount roughly equivalent to the daily consumption needs of 300,000 people.

Amid these challenges, the report outlines examples of policy interventions that integrate human rights principles into water governance. Case studies from multiple countries illustrate how targeted reforms can improve access, affordability, and sustainability.In Bangladesh, a community-led initiative enabled residents in coastal areas to co-finance a climate-resilient water facility, with women trained to manage operations.

The program contributed to a reduction in waterborne diseases and improved school attendance among girls, and has since been replicated across hundreds of administrative wards.In Costa Rica, a water tariff reform introduced progressive pricing, charging higher rates for heavy users while offering subsidized rates for low-income households. The approach improved affordability for vulnerable populations while encouraging conservation, demonstrating how economic regulation can align with human rights objectives.

The brief emphasizes that such initiatives are most effective when supported by strong governance frameworks. It calls for greater transparency, public participation, and access to information, alongside legal mechanisms that allow individuals to seek redress when rights are violated.States are also urged to integrate water and sanitation priorities into broader policy frameworks, including climate adaptation plans, biodiversity strategies, and disaster risk reduction efforts.

The report highlights the need for financing models that are predictable, accessible, and aligned with human rights standards, as well as the importance of strengthening local governance capacities.Gender considerations are identified as a critical component of effective policy design.

The report calls for measures to address structural inequalities, including gender-responsive budgeting, increased representation of women in decision-making, and protections against gender-based violence linked to water access.The role of the private sector is also addressed, with the report referencing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies are expected to conduct due diligence, disclose environmental and social impacts, and provide remedies where harm occurs.

Governments, in turn, are tasked with regulating corporate activity to prevent abuses affecting water and sanitation systems.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that addressing water and sanitation challenges requires sustained political and financial commitment. “Investment in water is an investment in dignity, equality, public health, and sustainable development,” he said in a statement marking World Water Day 2026.

The findings highlight the scale and complexity of the global water crisis, with environmental degradation, population pressures, and governance gaps continuing to strain already fragile systems.

The United Nations human rights office has launched the second season of its podcast series “Economies that Work for All,” advancing its push to integrate human rights principles into global economic policymaking amid growing concerns over inequality and sustainability.

The series, produced by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in collaboration with the UN System Staff College’s Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, builds on earlier discussions around the concept of a “human rights economy.” The initiative seeks to address a central question posed by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk: who benefits from existing economic systems.

The framing reflects a broader institutional concern that current economic structures are failing to deliver equitable outcomes. According to Türk, a human rights-based approach to economic governance places individuals and environmental sustainability at the core of decision-making, aligning policy outcomes with broader social objectives.

“Economies that Work for All” explores the intersection of economic systems and human rights, positioning the latter as a framework for addressing systemic challenges such as inequality, exclusion, and environmental degradation. The concept is also tied to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasizes inclusive growth and social equity.

The first season of the podcast introduced foundational ideas behind the human rights economy framework through discussions with policymakers and economists. Contributors included Mariana Mazzucato, Jayati Ghosh, Kate Raworth, Grieve Chelwa, and Epsy Campbell, who examined how rights-based approaches could reshape economic thinking and policy design.

The newly launched second season shifts focus toward implementation, examining how governments are applying these principles in practice. Through a series of weekly episodes, the podcast highlights policy initiatives across different regions, offering case studies on how human rights considerations can inform economic decision-making.

The opening episode features Spain’s Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, discussing national efforts to align economic policy with inclusivity and social welfare objectives. The discussion reflects broader European debates on balancing growth with social protection and equitable distribution.

Subsequent episodes examine fiscal and structural reforms in emerging and developing economies. One episode focuses on Brazil’s approach to taxation, with Poliana Garcia Ferreira from the Ministry of Finance outlining measures aimed at reducing inequality through redistributive policies. The discussion highlights the role of tax systems in addressing income disparities and supporting public services.

Another episode explores South Africa’s efforts to implement a rights-based approach to climate transition. Dorah Modise, Executive Director of the Presidential Climate Commission, discusses strategies for aligning environmental policy with social justice, particularly in the context of shifting away from carbon-intensive industries.

The series also includes a case study on Sri Lanka, where economist Ahilan Kadirgamar reflects on the country’s economic challenges and the potential for rethinking development through a human rights lens. The episode examines how past economic crises can inform more inclusive policy frameworks going forward.

Housing policy is addressed in a separate episode featuring Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing and current Global Director of The Shift. The discussion emphasizes the need to treat housing as a fundamental human right rather than a financial asset, particularly in urban environments facing affordability pressures.

The podcast initiative comes at a time when multilateral institutions are increasingly examining the social impact of economic policies. Rising inequality, climate-related risks, and uneven recovery patterns following global economic disruptions have intensified calls for policy frameworks that prioritize inclusivity and resilience.

Türk said that grounding economic decisions in human rights can enhance public trust and improve long-term sustainability. The approach, he argued, provides a structured way to align economic outcomes with broader societal goals, including poverty reduction, environmental protection, and access to essential services.

The UN’s emphasis on a human rights economy reflects an evolving policy discourse that seeks to move beyond traditional growth metrics. By integrating social and environmental considerations into economic planning, the framework aims to support more balanced and durable development outcomes.

The first episode of the second season became available on March 30, with subsequent episodes scheduled for weekly release. The series is accessible through major podcast platforms and forms part of a broader UN effort to engage policymakers, academics, and the public on issues at the intersection of economics and human rights.

A United Nations human rights report has warned that conditions in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate sharply under the country’s de facto Taliban authorities, with women and girls facing the most severe restrictions and millions struggling amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The assessment, presented by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the latest session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, covers developments between August 2025 and January 2026. It highlights a convergence of economic decline, reduced international aid, environmental stress, and governance policies that have significantly constrained civil liberties.

According to the report, approximately 21.9 million people around 45 percent of Afghanistan’s population—are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The situation has been exacerbated by a reduction in external funding, the return of nearly three million Afghans from neighboring countries during 2025, and persistent drought conditions affecting livelihoods and food security.

Türk said a series of directives issued since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has had a “crushing impact” on the population, particularly women and girls. These measures, the report states, have effectively excluded women from most areas of public and professional life.

Since September 2025, Taliban security forces have barred Afghan women, including United Nations staff and contractors, from entering UN premises across the country. The restriction remained in place as of late January 2026, significantly limiting the organization’s operational capacity and its ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.The report also details the formal dismissal of women civil servants.

After being instructed to remain at home following the Taliban takeover while receiving a reduced monthly salary of 5,000 Afghanis, women were informed in January 2026 that their employment had been terminated without due process or compensation. The UN noted the absence of transparency and mitigation measures in this decision.

Educational restrictions remain in place, with girls excluded from schooling beyond the sixth grade and barred from higher education since December 2022. The report notes that medical graduation examinations were conducted in November 2025 without female candidates for a second consecutive year, following a ban on women attending medical institutes imposed in December 2024.

Additional measures have further limited women’s participation in public life. Authorities have enforced dress codes under the “Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” and although the requirement for full-body covering appears to have been relaxed in some areas, women not adhering to prescribed attire continue to face denial of access to public transport, markets, and services.

The closure of beauty salons and the removal of books authored by women from libraries and bookstores, regardless of subject matter, have further restricted cultural and intellectual expression.“The de facto authorities have, in effect, criminalized the presence of women and girls in public life,” Türk said, adding that these policies affect access to healthcare, civic participation, and freedom of movement and expression.

The report also identifies broader human rights concerns, including the use of public executions and corporal punishment. Since 2021, authorities have carried out 12 public executions, including two during the reporting period, often in sports stadiums. Public floggings are reported to occur on a weekly basis.In late September 2025, Afghanistan experienced a nationwide shutdown of its fibre optic network, resulting in a 48-hour blackout of internet and mobile services.

The disruption affected healthcare delivery, emergency response systems, aviation operations, and financial services, according to the report, which noted that no official explanation was provided.Media freedom has also come under increased pressure. Journalists face arbitrary detention and restrictions on content, while live political talk shows have been banned since February 2025.

Broadcasting of music and drama has also been prohibited. Women journalists who remain active in the profession encounter additional barriers, including reported incidents of being silenced during official briefings.Türk described the overall situation as severe, citing widespread poverty and limited access to essential services.

“Millions of Afghans live in utter poverty, deprived of their right to adequate food, clean water, and access to education, healthcare and employment,” he said. He added that natural disasters, including two earthquakes in late 2025, have compounded existing challenges, while funding cuts have weakened humanitarian response efforts.

Security conditions along Afghanistan’s borders have also contributed to instability. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 70 civilian deaths and 478 injuries attributed to Pakistani military actions during cross-border incidents in the final quarter of 2025.

The report notes that these figures exceed annual civilian casualty levels recorded in previous years, with the most intense period occurring between October 10 and 17, when more than 500 civilians were affected.In response to these developments, the UN has called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to reverse policies that restrict fundamental rights.

Recommendations include restoring women’s access to education and employment, halting executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, ending arbitrary detentions, and ensuring fair trial standards. The report also calls for respect for freedom of expression and unimpeded humanitarian access.

The UN has urged member states to suspend forced returns of Afghan nationals, warning that deportees face credible risks of persecution, torture, and other serious harm. It has also emphasized the importance of supporting a newly established Independent Investigative Mechanism mandated to collect evidence of potential international crimes.

Türk noted that accountability efforts have gained some traction, referencing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in July 2025. He called on states to cooperate with ongoing investigations and provide financial support for accountability mechanisms.

Separately, a civil society-led People’s Tribunal for Women of Afghanistan delivered a symbolic judgment in December 2025, finding the Taliban and associated authorities responsible for crimes against humanity, including gender-based persecution and arbitrary detention.

The tribunal also called for the recognition of “gender apartheid” as a distinct international crime.Türk endorsed efforts to formalize this concept in international law, stating that defining gender apartheid would be a critical step toward addressing systemic discrimination. He urged Afghan authorities to reconsider policies excluding women from public life, emphasizing their central role in the country’s future.

“Women and girls are the present and the future, and the country cannot thrive without them.”

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said London “strongly” supports including Lebanon in the ceasefire, citing humanitarian concerns following the latest Israeli attacks. “We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon,” she told Sky News, adding that the scale of displacement and civilian impact was deeply troubling.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 203 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in strikes on Wednesday, marking one of the deadliest days in the current phase of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The calls were echoed by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, who said Israeli actions were placing the ceasefire under “severe strain” and that the truce should be broadened to include Lebanon.

France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot also condemned the strikes, describing them as “unacceptable.”U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran to enable negotiations after weeks of conflict that disrupted global energy markets and heightened geopolitical risk.

However, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Lebanon was not part of the agreement, warning that any collapse in talks over the issue would be Tehran’s responsibility.

Iran signaled growing frustration, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stating that continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, alongside other concerns, had undermined the basis for negotiations and made further talks “unreasonable.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, described the scale of casualties in Lebanon as “horrific,” particularly after strikes in densely populated areas of Beirut that reportedly occurred without prior warning.

The escalation comes ahead of planned talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, where mediators have urged all parties to maintain restraint. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for adherence to the ceasefire to allow diplomacy to proceed.

Tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, as uncertainty persists over maritime security and oil flows following recent disruptions.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it had resumed rocket fire toward Israel in response to continued strikes, signaling a potential widening of hostilities despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.