UN Mission Says Taliban Officials Have Insulted, Beaten Women in Afghanistan
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that a number of women, including female shopkeepers, have faced verbal abuse, beatings and threats of arrest in their interactions with Taliban authorities.
On Sunday, 19 Mizan, UNAMA called on the Taliban administration to end discriminatory treatment of women and girls, warning that the arrest, beating and intimidation of women amount to violations of their basic rights.
According to UNAMA, in some cases women were released after spending several hours in detention. The mission stressed that such actions restrict women’s and girls’ rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and personal autonomy, and expose them to severe social stigma and further marginalisation.
UNAMA also urged Taliban authorities to respect the human dignity and human rights of all Afghan citizens and to abide by Afghanistan’s commitments under international human rights law.
These concerns come as sweeping restrictions have been imposed on the lives of women and girls since the Taliban returned to power. Girls have been barred from education beyond sixth grade and women from university studies, while restrictions on women’s participation in work and public life also continue.
