UN Special Rapporteur Calls On Taliban To Release Human Rights Defenders

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, has called on the Taliban to release women human rights defenders from detention.

“On International Women’s Day, I stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan who face an unparalleled level of institutional and systematic discrimination,” he said.

In a statement, he expressed his salutation for Afghan women’s bravery, creativity, and leadership in demanding their rights.

He urged the Taliban to respect all the human rights of women and girls, including their right to education and work.

The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan emphasised on meaningful and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of social life.

Bennett called on the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrary detained for human rights, especially women’s and girl’s rights.

Following the takeover of power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on women. Over the past two and a half years, numerous human rights defenders both inside and outside Afghanistan have called for the repeal of these restrictions.

Although the Taliban has consistently suppressed protests and demonstrations, in the latest incident, on Friday, a group of young women in Takhar took to the streets, chanting slogans against the Taliban.

Videos received by Afghanistan International show women in the march stating that on International Women's Day, Afghan women are imprisoned. They chanted, "Anti-women government be overthrown.”