Afghan women: UN urges Taliban to repeal curbs

The UN Human Rights Council urged the Taliban on Monday to repeal practices restricting the fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan.

The 47-country council adopted the resolution without a vote. It said human rights in Afghanistan were deteriorating and voiced serious concern about what it called the “grave, worsening, widespread and systematic oppression of all women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban”.

The council urged the Taliban to repeal policies and practices restricting women’s and girls’ rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly, education, work and voting.

It said the Taliban had enforced a growing web of edicts and institutional controls affecting public and private life in Afghanistan. The council also urged the international community to adjust its engagement with stakeholders in Afghanistan with regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans.

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and imposed a strict version of Islamic law. The Taliban government remains largely excluded from the international community, which criticises its repressive measures.

Women have been particularly affected by Taliban government measures. They are banned from public places including parks and from most jobs, while education for girls beyond age 12 is outlawed.

The resolution was brought forward by 37 European countries, plus Canada and Chile. The council also extended the mandate of its independent special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan for another year.