KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has strongly condemned the Taliban’s continued and systematic exclusion of Afghan women and girls from public life, warning that the situation represents a severe human rights crisis with devastating long-term consequences.
Speaking at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Türk said that the Taliban, since reclaiming power in August 2021, have not only banned girls from attending school beyond sixth grade but have also “silenced the voices of women outside their homes,” barring them from education, employment, political participation, and access to many public spaces.
“They are being erased from public life,” Türk said. “Even their voices are not tolerated outside the household.”
He warned that the Taliban’s repressive policies go far beyond cultural restrictions and constitute a “systematic, institutionalized form of discrimination that is unparalleled in the modern world.” He added that such acts are likely to inflict intergenerational harm on Afghan society, jeopardizing the country’s future.
The High Commissioner also raised alarm over the worsening situation of people with disabilities in Afghanistan, noting that years of hard-won progress had been rolled back.
“There are credible reports of public mockery and exclusion of people with disabilities by individuals in positions of influence,” Türk said. “This regression is unacceptable and erases decades of progress in inclusive rights.”
He further highlighted the increased vulnerability of LGBTQ+ individuals under Taliban rule, stating that they are subjected to legal restrictions, public hate speech, and in some cases, physical violence.
“Members of the LGBTQ+ community live in constant fear. Many have been detained, harassed, or forced into hiding,” Türk stated, adding that basic protections no longer exist for these individuals.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have issued a series of decrees severely restricting women’s roles in Afghan society. Women are banned from most government jobs and NGOs, barred from universities and vocational training, and in many provinces, prohibited from entering parks, gyms, and public baths. Travel without a male guardian is restricted, and access to healthcare has declined due to limits on female health workers.
The group claims to be enforcing Islamic principles. However, Türk and numerous Islamic scholars have repeatedly challenged the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia, calling it politically motivated and contrary to both international human rights standards and the spirit of Islam.
Volker Türk warned that the Taliban’s actions constitute a human rights emergency with global implications.
“What is happening in Afghanistan is not only a tragedy for the Afghan people but a test for the international community’s commitment to the universality of human rights,” he said.
He urged the international community to maintain focus on Afghanistan and continue to support Afghan women, civil society actors, and human rights defenders, many of whom have been forced into exile or silenced under threats.
