The Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law continues to strip Afghan women and girls of fundamental rights and erode freedoms across the country, warned the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, during a briefing to the Security Council on Thursday.
Otunbayeva painted a bleak picture of escalating human rights violations and diminishing opportunities for women while urging the Taliban to reconsider policies with devastating societal consequences.
“It is now approaching nearly 1,200 days without girls having access to formal education beyond sixth grade, with women and girls facing a progressive erasure from almost all walks of life,” she stated. A new decree barring women from attending medical institutes threatens to collapse Afghanistan’s already fragile healthcare system, she added, with dire consequences for all citizens, regardless of gender.
Freedoms Under Siege
The Taliban’s enforcement of the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law has intensified restrictions, with monitors imposing rules in public spaces, workplaces, and even private events like weddings.
Stricter gender segregation in businesses has left many women unable to support their families, compounding mental health challenges and creating severe consequences for children. Women unaccompanied by male guardians, or mahrams, face growing restrictions on mobility and healthcare access, while men are increasingly targeted for noncompliance with grooming standards, such as shaving their beards or wearing “western-style” haircuts.
Media Clampdown
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented a widening crackdown on the media, further curtailing freedom of expression. Otunbayeva highlighted that restrictions on journalists have eroded the ability of the press to foster a well-informed and inclusive society.
“The space for public debate, including on key issues such as the rights of women and girls, continues to shrink,” she said, citing limitations on political parties and civil society activities.
Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher also addressed the Security Council, describing Afghanistan as the second-largest humanitarian crisis in the world after Sudan. Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population lives in poverty, while extreme weather events, malnutrition, and food insecurity have pushed millions to the brink.
Hunger now affects one in three Afghans, and basic services like healthcare remain out of reach for much of the population. Fletcher warned that international assistance is critical, with half the country relying on aid to survive.
A Call for Action
Fletcher urged the Security Council to increase funding for humanitarian operations, reduce restrictions on aid delivery, and invest in sectors like agriculture and healthcare to provide long-term stability.
“Afghans face immense challenges. But they have not lost hope,” Fletcher said. “As they navigate this tough period, we must continue to support them, with international solidarity and genuine humanity.”
The UN’s appeal underscores the urgent need for a coordinated global response to prevent further deterioration of human rights and living conditions in Afghanistan.
