Geneva [Switzerland], February 27 (ANI): UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk strongly condemned the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan over a new decree that effectively expands and legitimises violence against women and children, including in homes.
Speaking at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, Turk described Afghanistan as “a graveyard for human rights,” citing the Taliban’s cascade of edicts since taking power in 2021. He noted measures that have barred women from secondary and higher education, most employment, and access to healthcare and civic spaces, leaving them socially and economically marginalised.
Turk denounced last month’s decree, signed by the Taliban leader, for broadening the use of the death penalty, legitimising corporal punishment, and criminalising criticism of the de facto authorities — actions that further undermine women’s freedoms. He said these measures, along with restrictions on movement, education, and work, amount to systemic persecution and gender-based oppression comparable to apartheid.
The High Commissioner also raised alarm over Afghan women, including UN staff and contractors, being barred from UN premises since September 2025, and described the severe obstacles women face in media, public service, and humanitarian work. Censorship, mandatory dress codes, guardianship requirements, public executions, limits on expression, and nationwide communication blackouts have compounded risks to women and girls.
“The de facto authorities have, in effect, criminalised the presence of women and girls in public life. They are banned from secondary education and above and from most employment. Discrimination affects their healthcare, their access to civic space, and their freedom of movement and expression,” Turk said.
He cited the Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice being used recently to crack down on men’s beards; enforce strict hijab; require female accompaniment by male guardians; prohibit music and images of living beings; and mandate prayers.
Turk urged the Taliban to rescind discriminatory laws and decrees; ensure women and girls can access education, healthcare, employment, and public life; allow UN and humanitarian personnel to operate freely; impose a moratorium on executions; end corporal punishment; halt arbitrary arrests; and uphold freedom of expression and media rights, especially for women journalists.
He warned that excluding and oppressing women undermines Afghanistan’s social cohesion and development, and called on the international community to hold the de facto authorities accountable. “Women and girls are the present and the future, and the country cannot thrive without them,” Turk said. (ANI)
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