UN Official: The Suppression of Women in Afghanistan Is Unprecedented in the World Today

Bayan News – Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated in a message that, over the past three years, women and girls in Afghanistan have faced an increasing destruction of their human rights.

In a video message released on Saturday (December 1), he added, “Taliban decrees, both at the national and local levels, have restricted women’s rights in areas such as education, employment, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression.”

In his message, the UN official clearly stated: “The overall impact of these actions has nearly erased women and girls from public life, turning them into virtual prisoners in their own homes.”

Volker emphasized that this suppression of half the population based on gender is unprecedented in the world today and is recognized as systematic abuse supported by the state based on gender.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also warned that such suppression is a form of self-inflicted harm at the national level, with disastrous effects on the country’s prospects for peace and sustainable development.

He issued this message in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

While addressing the suppression of women and girls in Afghanistan, he pointed out that recently, six countries have taken the issue of women’s rights violations by the Taliban to the International Criminal Court.

On the other hand, the interim government has consistently stated that women’s rights are ensured according to Islamic Sharia law and that countries and organizations should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs on these matters.

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