Explainer · 24 Jun 2026
Do Not Let Bygones Be Bygones: document the records and center those affected
Accountability Watch Afghanistan is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advance accountability, transitional and restorative justice, peace and security in Afghanistan through community-based monitoring, research, documentation, and advocacy.
Latest UpdateRead full joint statement
HRC63: Renew mandate of Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, and maintain dedicated reporting and dialogues on rights of women and girls
Joint Statement A joint civil society call to states at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council to fully renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, maintain dedicated reporting and dialogues on the rights of women and girls, request a dedicated report on marginalized ethnic, religious and linguistic communities, and call for the swift operationalisation of the IIMA.
Our Work
1
Monitor
We monitor and document human rights developments across Afghanistan through established networks and partners, including community-based monitoring methodologies, in accordance with internationally recognized human rights standards.
2
Document
We collect, verify, and preserve relevant information and evidence of human rights violations through ethical, secure, and confidentiality-compliant documentation practices, consistent with international human rights documentation principles.
3
Build Evidence
We analyze patterns of violations, facts and evidence, and compile evidentiary records in accordance with applicable international standards for human rights documentation and accountability processes.
4
Empower Communities
We adopt a survivor-centered approach that prioritizes affected individuals and communities, strengthens local capacities, and supports communities in the exercise and realization of their rights and agency.
5
Advocate
We engage in advocacy for accountability, justice, peace and security and policy reform at national, regional, and international levels, including engagement with relevant human rights mechanisms and stakeholders.
Selected Publications
View all publicationsReport · 16 Sept 2026
Side Event Report: The Persecution of Hazaras and Women in Afghanistan
A side event at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council brought together Hazara human rights defenders, survivors, legal experts, civil society representatives and the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan to examine patterns of persecution against the Hazaras, with particular attention to the intersecting harms experienced by women and girls. This report summarises the interventions and consolidates the recommendations made during the discussion.
Statement · 14 Aug 2026
End Taliban’s Oppression in Afghanistan and Hold All Perpetrators Accountable
Over the past five years, Afghanistan under Taliban rule has suffered from profound multidimensional human rights, humanitarian, economic and security crises. The Taliban have systematically dismantled fundamental freedoms and civic space; institutionalized the oppression of women and girls including their exclusion from education, employment and public life.
Joint Statement · 17 Jul 2026
Joint Statement: Call for Action on Accountability for Afghanistan on the International Day for Criminal Justice
Today, on the International Day for Criminal Justice, we, Afghan and international human rights and civil society organizations, remind the global community that international law is only as strong as its enforcement. As we approach the fifth year of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, the international response to Afghanistan stands at a critical, defining crossroads.
Joint Statement · 24 Jun 2026
Joint Public Letter to the European Union on the Normalisation of Engagement with the Taliban
We, the undersigned Afghan and international civil society organizations, are concerned about the growing normalisation of engagement with the Taliban, particularly in the context of migration management and return arrangements, which raise serious human rights and protection concerns.
Our Approach
Accountability, justice, peace, and security are not competing objectives but mutually reinforcing elements of sustainable peace and development.
Accountability as a Multi-layered ProcessAccountability includes truth-seeking, acknowledgement, responsibility, redress, non-recurrence, reconciliation, and dialogue across justice, peace, and security processes.
We approach accountability as a multi-layered process that includes truth-seeking, acknowledgement, responsibility, redress, guarantees of non-recurrence, reconciliation and dialogue in all processes of justice, peace and security. Our role is to monitor and support efforts on accountability, justice, peace, and security by documenting the violations, supporting and empowering agency of the communities and victims and survivors, amplifying credible evidence, engaging with relevant mechanisms, and advocating for victim-centered outcomes.
An Integrated and Complementary ApproachAWA treats accountability, justice, peace, and security as mutually reinforcing rather than competing objectives.
AWA is guided by the belief that accountability, justice, peace, and security are not competing objectives but mutually reinforcing elements of sustainable peace and development. We therefore do not endorse the notion of “let bygones be bygones” or framing justice and peace as opposing objectives. Instead, we adopt an integrated and complementary approach to advancing these interconnected objectives.
Victim-and Survivor-Centered ApproachVictims and survivors are rights-holders and key stakeholders, with meaningful participation in design, implementation, and monitoring.
AWA adopts a victim-centered framework in which victims are not merely sources of information, but rights-holders and key stakeholders. This means prioritizing and including victims’ perspectives in agenda-setting, ensuring informed consent and do no harm principles in documentation and advocacy, and supporting victims’ access to information, participation, and representation in accountability, justice, peace and security processes. AWA seeks to create spaces where victims’ voices meaningfully inform both the design, implementation and monitoring of accountability, justice, peace and security processes.
How We Work
Our work is guided by core ethical principles that shape how we conduct research, engage with communities, and contribute to accountability processes.
- 01
Survivor-Centered Approach
The needs, safety, dignity, and agency of survivors guide all aspects of our work. Affected individuals and communities are central to processes that concern them.
- 02
Do No Harm
We assess and mitigate potential risks our work may pose to individuals and communities. The safety and confidentiality of those we work with is paramount.
- 03
Independence and Impartiality
We maintain independence from political actors and armed groups. Our findings are determined solely by evidence, not by external influence or bias.
- 04
Evidence-Informed
We adhere to established standards for human rights documentation and research. Our work is grounded in verifiable information and ethical research practices.
Resources
Human Rights Education and Advocacy Training Program for Women Human Rights Defenders
View program & apply (deadline 10 August 2026)Emergency Protection and Relocation for Human Rights Defenders
Visit srdefenders.org →A Global Protection Fund -- Lighthouse
Visit lighthousedefenders.org →Get in touch
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