The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women and girls are eroding their fundamental rights and weakening the country’s future. In a statement marking Human Rights Day, UNAMA said women face severe limits in healthcare, work, and participation in public life, stressing that these measures harm families, weaken communities, and violate global human rights obligations.
UN officials called on the Taliban to align with international standards, reopen space for women and girls to learn and work, and place human rights at the center of Afghanistan’s path toward stability and development. In its statement, UNAMA emphasized the essential nature of rights, quoting Georgette Gagnon, Officer in Charge of UNAMA and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, who said:
“Human rights are not optional. They are the everyday essentials that sustain life. For Afghanistan, ensuring women and girls can learn, work, and participate fully is indispensable to recovery. We urge the de facto authorities to take concrete steps to align with international obligations and to open space for Afghanistan and all its people to thrive.”
On this Human Rights Day, UNAMA calls on all stakeholders—authorities, communities, and international partners—to reaffirm their commitment to human rights as the bedrock of Afghanistan’s recovery.
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, also marked Human Rights Day by emphasizing that human rights are universal and non-negotiable. He said the UN’s mission is to prevent injustices, particularly those unfolding in Afghanistan, and accused the Taliban of widespread and systematic violations targeting women, girls, and ethnic and religious minorities.
Meanwhile, the “Purple Saturdays Movement,” a women-led protest group, said the Taliban have plunged Afghanistan into a deep human rights crisis, turning Human Rights Day into a symbol of despair. The movement accused the Taliban of broad human rights abuses and criticized the international community for inaction under the banner of “engagement.” It called for ending talks with the Taliban, imposing stronger sanctions on Taliban leaders, and supporting Afghan women’s struggle for rights.
The Taliban, since returning to power, have faced sustained accusations of severe human rights violations, particularly against women and girls who remain barred from work, education, and meaningful participation in society.
