On Friday, November 25, a group of UN specialists stated that the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls may constitute a crime against humanity. The abuse of women and girls may amount to “gender persecution,” according to the assessment made by UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett and nine other experts.
“In recent months, violations of women and girls’ fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, already the most severe and unacceptable in the world, have sharply increased,” the UN experts stated in a statement.
They say that the Taliban’s targeting of women and girls deepens “flagrant violations of their human rights and freedoms that are already the most draconian globally and may amount to gender persecution — a crime against humanity”.
Taliban are yet to change their stringent social policies
The Taliban took over control of Kabul from the Western-backed government in August of last year, promising to reinvent themselves and work to enhance their image abroad as well as commerce and the country’s economy.
Taliban 2.0, however, seems to be very similar to the Taliban of old. Additionally, observers claim that the updated Taliban is not eager to significantly alter its radical beliefs. The Taliban are still far from altering its strict social rules, as evidenced by its most recent decisions, particularly those about women and their freedom.
Since they have been in charge, the majority of women who work for the government have lost their employment despite their claims that they respect women’s rights through their understanding of Islamic law. There are limitations on women’s mobility, education, the attendance of young girls in school, clothing, etc.
The UN experts said in a statement: “In recent months, violations of women and girls’ fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, already the most severe and unacceptable in the world, have sharply increased.” “Confining women to their homes is tantamount to imprisonment and is likely leading to increased levels of domestic violence and mental health challenges,” the statement added.