The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that women and girls have effectively been barred from public life, higher education, and many employment opportunities, with widespread discrimination affecting their civil liberties, healthcare services, and freedom of expression. He condemned the Taliban’s latest decrees since 2021, including an expansion of crimes punishable by death, the sanctioning of beatings of women and children, and the criminalization of criticism against Taliban officials, describing Afghanistan as a “graveyard of human rights.” He also stated that this system of segregation is reminiscent of apartheid, except that it is based on gender rather than race. At the same time, ten countries at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council condemned the Taliban’s detailed court principles, stating in a joint declaration that these principles normalize domestic violence, entrench discrimination, and undermine due process.

Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, declared in his address to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council that the situation in Afghanistan requires urgent political dialogue. Citing a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on civilian casualties resulting from clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan, he noted that 70 civilians were killed and 447 others were wounded.

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