Amnesty International, UNAMA condemn Taliban’s systematic oppression of women

Amnesty International has condemned the Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on Afghan women and girls, stating that their treatment has reached a level of dehumanization.

In a statement marking International Women’s Day, the organization highlighted how women’s rights in Afghanistan have been systematically dismantled, confining them to roles as caregivers and child-bearers with no access to education, employment, or public life.

The Taliban have criminalized women’s visibility in society, banning their presence in schools, universities, workplaces, and public spaces. Amnesty emphasized that these restrictions are enforced with ruthless control, leaving Afghan women isolated in their homes and stripped of fundamental rights.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the “progressive erasure” of Afghan women from public life, stating that these restrictions deepen poverty and social isolation. However, the Taliban dismissed these concerns, insisting that women’s rights are being upheld in accordance with Islamic law.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, 1.5 million school-age girls have been denied education. Many describe their lives as being trapped in a prison, with hopes of a better future fading. Women are also barred from working, traveling without a male guardian, and accessing recreational spaces such as parks and public baths.

Afghanistan ranks last in the global Women, Peace, and Security Index, highlighting the severe decline in gender equality. Human rights organizations warn that the Taliban’s actions amount to gender apartheid, urging stronger international pressure to restore women’s rights.

Despite global condemnation, no country has formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government. Experts stress the role of neighboring and Muslim-majority countries in pressuring the Taliban to reverse their policies.