Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN office, in a statement issued by High Commissioner Turk on Thursday, described the move by the Taliban administration as highly discriminatory and warned that it would pose many risks to the lives of women and girls.
According to the UN human rights office, it is the latest in a long list of state-sponsored discriminatory decisions targeting women and girls in education, work and other areas.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights said that such actions are trying to completely control the future of Afghanistan.
After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the situation for women’s rights has deteriorated rapidly.
Attack on women’s rights
They are being denied basic rights and freedoms including education, work, physical and mental health, right to movement, freedom from fear and freedom from discrimination.
Girls are excluded from secondary education and women are already banned from attending university.
Women and girls are banned from visiting amusement parks, public bathrooms, gyms, sports clubs and dress codes for women and girls are strictly enforced in the country. They are not allowed to travel long distances without a male companion.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights clarified in its statement that the closure decision will also close the only avenue for higher education for women and girls. This will affect the availability of female midwives, nurses and doctors in the country, which is already low.
“This decision will limit access for women and girls who are already at risk of accessing health care. “Since male medical personnel are prohibited from treating women without the presence of a male partner.”
The welfare of the whole population is important
According to the Human Rights Office, Afghanistan already has a high maternal mortality rate and therefore it is important to maintain their presence in the health sector.
He said that such steps are taken by men without any transparency and no one else has any part in the process. Through this, direct efforts are made to keep women and girls away from public life.
The UN office noted that it is the responsibility of the ruling Taliban to take care of the welfare, safety and security of the entire population of the country.
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk called on the Taliban to withdraw the harmful order. Now is the time for Afghanistan to fulfill its international human rights obligations and ensure the human rights of women and girls.