Twelve members of the United Nations Security Council, including three permanent members, condemned systematic discrimination against women by the Taliban in a statement.
These countries include Brazil, Albania, Ecuador, France, the United States, Gabon, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Representatives of these countries wrote in a joint statement that “blatant violations of human rights and systematic discrimination” and the actions of the Taliban against women could constitute gender-based persecution.
On Wednesday, these twelve countries said in a statement about women, peace, and security in the Security Council: “We recall our commitment to Afghanistan for the implementation of the provisions of documents to which Afghanistan is a party and committed.”
These countries emphasized that ensuring conditions for the full participation of women in all decision-making processes contributes to international peace and security.
The statement also reads, “As emphasized by the Secretary-General’s report, we must always be explicit about the absolute need for support and respect for the rights of all women and girls, including by explicitly limiting political violence against women at all times.”
On Tuesday, Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, presented a report to the United Nations General Assembly regarding the current situation in Afghanistan.
The report highlighted Afghanistan’s current predicament, marked by a deteriorating human rights situation driven by the Taliban’s oppressive policies, a culture of impunity, an ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis, recent destructive earthquakes, and the looming risk of large-scale forced returns.
Despite consistent condemnation from the United Nations and Islamic nations, the Taliban has remained steadfast in its stance on women’s rights. Human rights organizations report that the Taliban has effectively marginalized women from Afghan society. Since seizing power in Afghanistan, they have enforced numerous restrictive measures on women by issuing more than 50 decrees.
The Taliban’s ban on fundamental women’s rights, such as education, employment, travel, sports, and park activities, is justified by their interpretation of Sharia law and domestic concerns. Human rights organizations categorize these policies as a stark example of gender apartheid.
