The UN Human Rights Council will hold an urgent debate on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan since the takeover by the Taliban, a spokesperson said on Friday (June 24th).
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The debate, which is to be held on July 1, was requested by countries of the European Union, including France, which holds the half-yearly presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of June, in a letter to the President of the Council Federico Villegas. They denouncesignificant deteriorationof the human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan since August 2021. The signatory countries of the letter also intend to submit a resolution to the Council.
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A “institutionalized systemic oppression»
The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan had greatly improved in terms of access to health care, work and studies, after the invasion of the country at the end of 2001 by the United States and its allies and the election of a democratic government. The seizure of power by the Taliban in August 2021 put most of the rights won in question. On June 15, the High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized “institutionalized systemic oppressionexercised by the Taliban regime on Afghan women and girls, whose situation she judgedcritical.Michelle Bachelet criticized in particular the “scourge of gender inequalitywhich have plagued the country since the return of the Taliban.
Tens of thousands of schoolgirls have been expelled from Afghan secondary schools, while many women in civil service positions have been unable to return to work. Women have also been banned from traveling alone and can only visit public parks and gardens in Kabul on certain days, with men on other days. Last month, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said as a general rule women should stay at home. They were forced to wear a full veil, covering the face, for any public outing.
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The severe restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement of womennegatively impact almost every aspect of their lives, including the ability of women and their children to access health services, livelihoods, and humanitarian assistancestressed the High Commissioner. This last point raises serious concerns in a country facing the combined effect of deep humanitarian and economic crises, and where 93 percent of households suffer from a high level of food insecurity.
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