KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, says the international community must find a way to persuade the Taliban to stop oppressing women and girls.
In a video released on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Bennett stressed the need for accountability, calling it essential for future peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
He said the Taliban’s newly enacted so-called “morality law” oppresses not only women and girls but the entire population, including minorities, people from different cultural backgrounds, and even men.
“Unless this law is reversed it will shape future generations of Afghans,” Bennett said. “We must find a way to persuade the Taliban to change course,” he emphasized.
He also called for a comprehensive strategy that incorporates criminal justice and extends to a broad spectrum of transitional justice measures.
“And in doing this, Afghans, particularly women and girls must be consulted and must be part of any human rights and political process that shapes the future of their country,” he said.
Every year on November 25th, the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a day designated by the UN General Assembly in 2000. The day aims to raise awareness about the various forms of violence women face, including domestic violence and rape.
The day also highlights the full extent of this global issue, which is often overlooked. It marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a critical period to reflect, renew efforts, amplify voices, and develop strategies to achieve the goal of ending violence against women by 2030.
Meanwhile, marking the day on Monday, a group of Afghan women criticized the UN and the international community for failing to protect Afghan women from the violence and repression they face under Taliban rule.
They said that the UN and its Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have not taken any effective action so far against the Taliban’s gender-based policies and discrimination.
“Instead, through behind-the-scenes diplomacy, they have reduced sanctions and pressure on the regime, demonstrating a moral collapse of the international community’s collective responsibility,” the group said.
Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become one of the most oppressive countries for women and girls. The ruling regime has imposed harsh restrictions, restricting their movements and denying them access to education, employment, social mobility, and other fundamental freedoms.
Rights groups, UN experts, activists, and Afghan women all say that the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls constitutes gender apartheid, urging the international community and the UN to recognize it as such.
