RASC News Agency: The latest United Nations Secretary-General’s report on the situation of children in Afghanistan exposes the severe conditions faced by millions of girls who are being denied access to education. The report, covering the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, when the Taliban assumed control, discloses thousands of documented incidents of violence against children, including abductions. During this period, the political transition led to a significant number of girls being deprived of education, and widespread poverty forced thousands of children into labor. The fear of living under Taliban rule and the resulting migration crisis created a conducive environment for these distressing circumstances.
Published on Saturday, December 23, the sixth report by the United Nations Secretary-General on the situation of children in Afghanistan and armed violence, mandated by Security Council Resolution 1612, identifies various groups responsible for violating children’s rights. The Taliban, Hizb-e-Islami led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and the Khorasan branch of ISIS have been officially recognized as perpetrators of these violations, involving recruitment, abuse, murder, and facilitating sexual assault against children. The report records a staggering 4,519 cases of violence against children during the specified period, with 3,545 children aged between several months and 17 years falling victim to these acts. Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, emphasized that the Taliban’s restrictions significantly contributed to the escalation of child rights violations.
Millions of girls have been deprived of their right to education, according to her. Coupled with detrimental social norms and customary practices, this reality has subjected numerous girls to extreme forms of violence and mistreatment, including honor killings, early marriages, domestic violence, and sexual violence. Over the past two years, alarming reports have emerged, highlighting forced marriages, abductions, rapes, and even the killing of innocent children. It is crucial to acknowledge that during the Taliban’s reign in Afghanistan, children, particularly girls, have encountered numerous obstacles, leading to widespread concern and reactions.
