Afghanistan's Taliban Face U.N. Scrutiny Over Human Rights Record

The Taliban's human rights practices are under fire at a U.N. meeting, as critics accuse them of systematically depriving women and girls of their basic freedoms.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convened a meeting on Monday to scrutinize Afghanistan's human rights record under the Taliban regime. The hearing was marked by an awkward first for the council, as the Taliban's current rulers were not present due to their lack of recognition by the global body. Instead, the country was represented by an ambassador appointed by the former U.S.-backed government, which the Taliban ousted in 2021.

The meeting was prompted by rising concerns over the Taliban's treatment of women and girls since they retook power in Afghanistan. The group has implemented a series of restrictions that have severely curtailed the rights of women, including a ban on attending high school and college.

The United States, Britain, and Belgium raised questions about the Taliban's gender-based policies during the hearing. The U.S. delegation specifically asked about the accountability of perpetrators of abuses against civilians, particularly women and girls. The delegation also called for the promotion of the rights of LGBTQ persons, noting an escalation of threats and abuse since the Taliban takeover.

In total, 76 countries requested to take the floor at the meeting, demonstrating the widespread concern over the human rights situation in Afghanistan. The Taliban, for their part, maintain that they respect rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.

However, evidence suggests otherwise. Since seizing power, the Taliban have implemented a range of policies that have curtailed women's rights and freedoms. In addition to the ban on education for girls, the Taliban have barred women from most jobs in the aid sector, closed beauty salons, restricted women from public spaces, and imposed restrictions on their travel outside the home without a male guardian.

The UNHRC's peer review process, which includes public meetings and recommendations, aims to draw scrutiny to human rights policies and pressure governments to reform. While the recommendations are non-binding, they can lead to further investigations and legal action.

Human rights advocates have expressed hope that the UNHRC meeting will help bring attention to the plight of Afghan women and girls under the Taliban regime. They urge the international community to continue to monitor the situation and to press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans.