The fall of Afghanistan to Taliban control in 2021 marked a drastic shift in the landscape, particularly for women. Since then, there has been a distressing surge in human rights violations and atrocities against women. Restrictions have been imposed on nearly every aspect of women’s lives, severely curtailing their freedoms. As the Taliban fails in its purported mission to ensure women’s safety, they resort to incarcerating them, ostensibly in the name of protecting them from sexual violence, as claimed in a UN report released on Thursday.
Closure of Women’s Safety Centers
Prior to 2021, Afghanistan boasted 23 government-operated women’s safety centers, providing shelter to women vulnerable to gender-based violence. Presently, none of these centers exist. Authorities under the Taliban administration have informed the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan that there is no necessity for such shelters. The report highlights that if a woman does not have male relatives or residing with male relatives is deemed unsafe, the Taliban is imprisoning these women, purportedly for their protection.
Officials have also pledged to refrain from causing harm to the female relatives of men. However, the reality starkly contrasts with these assurances. The report emphasizes that women are being incarcerated for their safety, akin to how prisons are utilized in Kabul to accommodate drug addicts and homeless individuals.
Deteriorating Conditions for Women under Taliban Rule
Under Taliban rule, cases of gender discrimination and human rights violations against women continue to escalate. Since the Taliban’s resurgence, women and girls have found themselves confined within the confines of their homes. Fundamental rights for women, spanning from education to employment, have been systematically restricted. Bans have been imposed on education beyond the sixth grade for girls. Universities, public spaces, parks, and employment opportunities have also been off-limits. Moreover, women are required to be accompanied by male relatives for journeys exceeding 72 kilometers and adhere to strict dress codes.
The situation under Taliban rule has resulted in a harrowing reality where women are deprived of basic liberties, their lives constricted within a web of stringent regulations.