43 countries call on Taliban to lift 'suffocating restrictions' on Afghan women

More than 40 countries have urged the Taliban government to swiftly lift all restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, marking five years since the extremist group regained control. The United Nations described the situation as imposing "suffocating restrictions" on Afghans, particularly women. According to UNESCO, approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls and young women are currently denied secondary education.

Since August 2021, the Taliban have enforced gender-based segregation, effectively silencing women and girls from public life and severely limiting their access to education, healthcare, and employment. France's UN representative, Jerome Bonnafont, speaking for the 43 countries supporting the call, highlighted that women defying these restrictions face arrest and arbitrary detention, while their supporters and critics also face detention and reprisals.

The signatories demanded the Taliban to immediately end all human rights violations and put an end to the restrictions imposed on women and girls. Despite the dire humanitarian crisis, with many Afghans living in poverty, forced returns to the country persist. Over 400,000 Afghans have been forcibly returned this year, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, according to the United Nations.