The United Nations Human Rights Council’s 56th session commences this week, focusing in part on the human rights conditions in Afghanistan. Central to these discussions is a report by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, detailing widespread human rights violations.
Bennett’s 21-page report strongly criticizes the Taliban administration for its violations of human rights, particularly concerning Afghan women. He calls for an immediate lifting of restrictions that severely curtail their rights, including access to education, employment, and freedom of movement.
Since August 2021, Afghan women have faced increasing hardships under the Taliban regime. Many have been barred from returning to their jobs and universities, despite assurances from the Taliban that women’s rights under Shariah law would be protected.
The Taliban’s restrictions have severely limited opportunities for Afghan women, effectively erasing decades of progress towards gender equality. Women’s access to education has been severely curtailed, with many forced to abandon their studies or relegated to segregated and limited educational settings.
Employment opportunities for women have dwindled, with many sectors closed off to them entirely. Restrictions on movement have confined women to their homes, curtailing their ability to participate fully in public life and access basic services.
International calls for action to safeguard the rights of Afghan women and girls have intensified, urging concrete steps from the global community to ensure their protection and restore their fundamental freedoms.
Efforts to address these issues at the UN Human Rights Council reflect a global commitment to holding the Taliban accountable for their human rights abuses and advocating for the restoration of basic rights and freedoms for all Afghans, especially women and girls.
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