Geneva (Kubha News) – According to a report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council, “Five-Year Review of Human Rights in Afghanistan,” concerns have been raised about the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, particularly during the nearly three-year rule of the Taliban in the country. The report, jointly prepared by 34 human rights organizations and civil society activists in Afghanistan, highlights challenges in ensuring the human rights of Afghans over the past five years, focusing on the period close to the Taliban’s control.
Presented to the commission by former members of the Afghan Parliament, former Human Rights Commissioners of Afghanistan, human rights activists, and Afghanistan’s ambassador to Australia, this collaborative report calls on the global community to seek ways to ensure the rights of Afghans, especially women’s rights, amid ongoing concerns.
Key issues highlighted in the report include restrictions on women’s social activities, the right to work, preventing girls from attending schools and universities, and the absence of institutions for Afghan rights advocacy. The Taliban government is accused in the report of imprisoning Afghan citizens, especially women, subjecting them to physical punishment in prisons, and suppressing their rights.
Representatives of participating countries at the UN Human Rights Council session described the human rights situation in Afghanistan as concerning and urged the Taliban government to fulfill their commitments to human rights and freedoms, aligning with global standards. Most representatives cited restrictions on the right to work, the right to education for girls as the most significant human rights violations, emphasizing that this ongoing situation could be considered gender apartheid.
So far, the Taliban government has not commented on the details of the report from the Afghan Human Rights Working Group and the stance of representatives of world countries. However, Taliban spokespersons have previously emphasized their commitment to human rights, freedoms, and women’s rights within the framework of Sharia law.
This marks the fourth time that the UN Human Rights Council has reviewed Afghanistan’s human rights record. Previous reports on the human rights situation in Afghanistan were presented to this council in 2009, 2014, and 2019.