Antonio Guterres: The Taliban has imprisoned women in their homes

In his latest remarks against the Taliban’s bans on women’s education and work, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that “women and girls are being erased from public life and confined to their homes.”

Speaking at the Women’s Civil Society Town Hall, which took place on the sidelines of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York on Monday, Antonio Guterres condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women.

He further emphasised the need to support women during times of crisis, adding that the visits of his deputy, Amina Mohammed, and UN Women chief Sima Bahous to Afghanistan demonstrated the UN’s “deep commitment” to women’s rights in the most challenging situations.

As a result of the Taliban’s edicts since their return to power in August 2021, women and girls are once again confined to their homes. In March 2022, the group barred girls from secondary education. In December, it banned tertiary education for women and girls, and also prohibited women from working for NGOs.

Although these edicts have provoked repeated worldwide condemnations and calls for their reversal, including from the Islamic world, the Taliban leadership has only continued to impose further restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan.