The Taliban’s draconian crimes against women may amount to crimes against humanity

“In recent months, violations of the basic rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, previously the worst and most unacceptable in the world, have increased significantly,” they said.

In a statement pushing against the Taliban’s crimes, Special Rapporteurs argued that sexual harassment is a crime against humanity, which can be prosecuted under international law.

‘It’s like a prison’

While girls have not been excluded from university education, women have also been stopped from entering parks, gyms, and other public places – and in at least one area, have recently been barred from entering their university.

“Prohibiting women’s access to parks also denies children the opportunity for leisure and exercise and their right to play and sports activities”, the experts pointed out.

“Putting women in their homes is tantamount to imprisonment and is likely to lead to increased levels of domestic violence and mental health challenges”.

Instrumentalizing genders

At the same time, Taliban operatives are beating men and women who are wearing black clothes, or without face coverings.

Also, they are eliminating women and girls by punishing male relatives for the alleged crimes of women – helping one woman to another by encouraging men to control women’s behavior, clothing and behavior and girls in their community.

The statement stressed “We are deeply concerned that such actions are intended to force men and boys to torture women and girls who oppose the elimination of the Taliban, denying them their rights and committing violence to them,” the statement emphasized.

Protect the defense

Female human rights defenders who have been peacefully protesting against growing restrictions on women for months have been targeted, beaten, and arrested.

On 3 November, a press conference was interrupted and the participants were detained, including the activist Zarifa Yaquobi, who was accompanied by four men, was imprisoned by the Taliban’s intelligence department.

The experts raised their concern on the well-being of human rights defenders arrested and reminded the Taliban that “arresting people for exercising their fundamental rights is illegal and constitutes arbitrary detention”.

Call the Taliban

The Special Rapporteurs are called on so true authorities to adhere to all international human rights treaties and agreements and fully implement human rights standards, including the rights of all girls and women to education, employment, and participation in public and cultural life.

The experts also insisted that Zarifa Yaquobi, and the men with her, be “immediately and unconditionally released” or that the Taliban explain the reasons for their detention publicly and allow contact with their families and lawyers.

Other calls to action are for the Taliban to respect the basic rights to assemble without terror and attack; cancel the order that the children of the male family are mothers because of the transgressions of women and girls; open all secondary schools for girls and ensure they continue to tertiary education; and remove all restrictions to access public places.

Global actions are needed

Meanwhile, the experts also called on the international community to ask for the change of women’s restrictions and ensure the respect and protection of their rights during all discussions with so true authority.

In addition, international leaders should take steps to investigate and prosecute those responsible for gender persecution in relevant international governments and additional jurisdictions; increase support to Afghan human rights defenders, especially women and girls; and promoting and providing safe platforms for women to carry out decision-making processes in the country.

Restricting women’s access to parks denies children the opportunity to play and exercise.

About the experts

Click here to see the names of those who participated in the statement.

Special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights topic or a country situation. The positions are honorable and they are not paid for their work.