The United Nations in Afghanistan urged the Taliban to reverse restrictions they have introduced which violate the basic rights of Afghans, especially those of women and girls.
On this year’s Human Rights Day (December 10), the UN also asked Taliban to live up to the commitments listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Afghanistan is a signatory.
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and those who assume to govern have an immense responsibility as duty-bearers to each and every man, woman and child,” said Roza Otunbayeva, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The UN statement noted that despite announcing a general amnesty for former government officials and security force members and despite promising a more lenient approach towards women and girls in Afghanistan, there has been a marked deterioration of the population’s enjoyment of their basic human rights and freedoms.
UN added that the Taliban is responsible and accountable for the deteriorating situation because have limited dissent by cracking down on protests and curbing media freedoms.
The global organisation also reiterated their call for the release of Zafira Yaqobi and four other women’s right activists who remain in Taliban custody despite being in jail for more than one month now after their arrests in Kabul on 3 November.
The United Nations also stated that corporal punishments such as public floggings constitute a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and urged for abolishing the death penalty.
