The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed its commitment to engaging all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, despite the recent introduction of strict laws that further curtail the rights of women and girls. The Taliban’s newly implemented regulations, which include a ban on women’s voices and faces in public spaces, have drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from the UN, whose mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights in the country.
UN continues dialogue despite Taliban’s severing of ties
Following the UN’s criticism of these new laws, the Taliban announced it would sever its cooperation with UNAMA. The organization’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice stated that it would no longer work with the UN mission, accusing it of disrespecting Afghanistan’s religious values.
Despite this, the UN remains resolute in its stance. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that the organization will continue to engage with the Taliban and other stakeholders in Afghanistan to uphold its mandate. Speaking at a news conference in New York, Dujarric stressed that UNAMA and its head, Roza Otunbayeva, had consistently advocated for human rights and equality.
“We have been very vocal on the decision to further make women’s presence almost disappear in Afghanistan,” Dujarric said, referring to the Taliban’s latest restrictions. He added, “We will continue to engage with all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. We have always done so following our mandate, impartially and in good faith, upholding the norms of the UN, and pushing the messages of human rights and equality.”
Taliban’s new laws and their impact
The new laws, issued by Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, significantly tighten the already severe restrictions on women’s participation in public life. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, described the laws as presenting a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future, noting that the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law has imposed “intolerable restrictions” on women and girls.
These laws extend beyond banning women’s physical presence and visibility in public; they also prohibit women from speaking in public settings, deeming even the sound of a female voice outside the home as a moral violation. Such measures, according to Otunbayeva, further entrench the marginalization of women in Afghan society.
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The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, a department created after the group’s return to power in 2021, justifies these laws as necessary to uphold religious values. The ministry has urged international organizations, countries, and individuals to respect Afghanistan’s interpretation of Islamic law, insisting that the laws are based on their understanding of Sharia.
International reaction and UN’s role
The Taliban’s crackdown on women’s rights has been met with sharp criticism from the international community. The UN has repeatedly called for the protection of women’s rights in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to adhere to international human rights standards. The recent laws have intensified concerns about the future of women and girls under Taliban rule, with many fearing that the hard-won gains for women’s rights over the past two decades will be completely erased.
Despite the Taliban’s decision to cut ties with UNAMA, the UN remains committed to its mission in Afghanistan. Dujarric reiterated that UNAMA would continue its work as mandated by the Security Council, focusing on humanitarian aid, development, and the promotion of human rights.
The United Nations faces a difficult balancing act in Afghanistan, working to engage with the Taliban while strongly advocating for human rights, particularly those of women and girls. The new laws restricting women’s voices and presence in public represent a severe regression in Afghanistan’s human rights situation. However, the UN remains determined to continue its efforts to engage with all parties in Afghanistan and push for a more inclusive and equitable society, even in the face of significant challenges posed by the Taliban’s policies.
