RASC News Agency: Amnesty International has condemned the Taliban for their sustained violations of international law, particularly their deliberate and systemic assault on women’s rights. In a statement released on Monday, December 2, as part of its 16-day campaign to eradicate violence against women, the organization asserted that the Taliban continue to suppress any discourse on women’s rights while perpetuating gender-based discrimination and abuse with impunity. The report highlights the Taliban’s outright dismissal of findings related to gender-based violence and harassment, further noting their escalating restrictions on women over the past three years. Amnesty International observed that even the fundamental right to choose one’s attire has been forcibly stripped away, underscoring the depth of the Taliban’s oppressive policies.
In a renewed call to action, Amnesty urged the global community to hold the Taliban accountable for their blatant violations of international law. The organization stressed, “The world must respond decisively to the Taliban’s egregious abuses and ensure justice for the countless women and girls whose lives have been devastated.” Despite mounting concerns from international bodies, including the United Nations, about the worsening plight of Afghanistani women, the Taliban have continued to deflect criticism. In a recent statement, they claimed to have reduced instances of domestic violence, including “demeaning attitudes, physical and psychological abuse, deprivation of legitimate rights, and harmful cultural practices,” since their return to power in 2021.
Independent observers and human rights groups refute these claims, documenting the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women and minorities. Over the past three years, the regime has issued hundreds of decrees targeting women, effectively banning them from education, employment, and public spaces. These policies have erased women from Afghanistani society, reinforcing a deeply patriarchal and exclusionary system. Global criticism has also extended to the international community’s apparent inaction. Despite overwhelming evidence of the Taliban’s atrocities, efforts to hold the group accountable have been largely symbolic. Critics particularly highlight the United States’ weekly financial aid of $40 million or more, arguing that this funding has inadvertently strengthened the Taliban’s hold on power rather than addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
Amnesty International’s statement underscores the dire human rights crisis in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. As Afghanistani women and girls face unparalleled oppression and exclusion, the international community is urged to transition from rhetoric to meaningful action. Concrete measures, including targeted sanctions and legal accountability, are deemed essential to curbing the Taliban’s abuses and restoring the fundamental freedoms of Afghanistan’s women and girls.
