UN Security Council Fails to Reach Consensus on Condemning Taliban's "Virtue and Vice" Law

The United Nations has reported that the Security Council intended to issue a statement criticising the Taliban's ratification of the "Law on the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”.

However, the decision was blocked by two member states.

According to the UN, these two countries argued that the ratification of the law is an "internal matter" for Afghanistan.

During a briefing on its September agenda, the Security Council noted that the critical statement regarding the newly ratified Taliban law was expected to be released on August 21. However, two members questioned the appropriateness of such an action under the current circumstances.

The UN did not name the two opposing members, but the report indicated that China and Russia believe that the international community should assist Afghanistan, regardless of issues like human rights.

The report also stated that Beijing and Moscow advocated for dialogue and engagement with the Taliban without increasing pressure on the group.

The UN mentioned that the two members opposing the release of a critical statement about the Taliban's new law argued that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is still assessing the implications of the "Virtue and Vice" law. They also noted that the Security Council has previously addressed the challenges related to women's rights in Afghanistan.

The Taliban recently announced that their leader ratified the "Virtue and Vice" law, which imposes extensive restrictions on women and girls, including declaring their voices as "awrah" (a concept in Islamic jurisprudence referring to the parts of the body that must be covered).
The ratification of this so-called "Virtue and Vice" law by the Taliban has sparked widespread criticism both within and outside Afghanistan.