Taliban’s Cabinet Members Raise Concerns About "Strength Of System" & "Popular Support"

The meeting discussed the human rights situation and the problems of women and children in Afghanistan.

The embassy wrote in a note on the social media platform X on Monday, December 9, that the meeting discussed "the broad human rights and humanitarian challenges faced by Afghan women and children".

The Australian ambassador's meeting with the UN Women's representative comes at a time when women in Afghanistan face severe legal and social restrictions and their access to education, work and fundamental freedoms is severely restricted.

Australia, along with Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada, were among the first countries to announce that they would file a complaint against the Taliban with the International Court of Justice.

Recently, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong reacted to the closure of medical institutions in Afghanistan, saying that the Taliban had destroyed one of the few remaining opportunities for women.

During the meeting, they discussed the problems of Afghanistan's health sector, strengthening the health system and attracting international aid.

The meeting was attended by Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the head of the World Health Organization in Afghanistan; Hadia Samaha, the World Bank's Human Development Practice Lead for Afghanistan; Kwabena Asante-Ntiamoah, the head of UNFPA for Afghanistan, and UNICEF officials, the Taliban's Ministry of Health wrote in a statement on Monday, December 9.

The ministry did not release details about the agreements reached during the meeting, but the Taliban's health minister said that the group is working to solve the problems of Afghanistan's health sector.

The Taliban official's remarks come as the group, in addition to closing schools and universities to girls, has recently banned girls' education in medical institutions.

Doctors Without Borders warned last week that the Taliban's decision to ban women from studying in medical institutions threatens Afghanistan's health system and will have serious consequences for women's health. The Taliban's move is another step to exclude women from public and professional life, the organisation said.

Mujahid said that the group takes care of prisoners and Taliban agents are not allowed to torture prisoners.

"There is no problem in prisons, prisoners are only supported and treated, they are not tortured, and no one is allowed to do so," a Taliban spokesman told the British newspaper The Independent.

"The media can come and see the prisons and interview the prisoners and then see what the situation is here," Mujahid added.

Based on interviews with 38 people who were arrested by the Taliban's intelligence agency, Afghanistan International revealed that more than 30 types of torture are inflicted on prisoners in Taliban detention centres.

According to the report, most of the prisoners were arrested without legal basis and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture.

Former prisoners said that Taliban agents tortured them in various ways, such as beating them with sticks, immersing their heads and bodies in cold water, electric shocks, suffocating them, removing their nails, and other painful methods.

In addition, in August, sources told Afghanistan International that at least 87 people were killed as a result of torture in Taliban’s intelligence agency prisons.

Sources said that the cause of death was electric shock, respiratory arrest, drowning in water, and torture of the sexual organs.

The Taliban rejected Afghanistan International's investigative report, while the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) also published a report on the existence of torture and ill-treatment in Taliban prisons in November.

The two organisations emphasised on their support for Afghanistan's education. The two institutions have allocated $50 million equally to enrol more than 100,000 out-of-school children and award nearly 2,000 scholarships to youth.

Mohammed al-Kubaisi, interim CEO of the Education Above All Foundation, said, "Working with USAID is an important step towards achieving inclusive and equitable education. This joint effort can remove barriers, empower communities, and contribute to a brighter future."

"This partnership ensures that Afghan women and girls have access to quality education and a more prosperous future for Afghans," added Joel Sandford, USAID director for Afghanistan.

The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to education as a fundamental right for all, especially for disadvantaged and at-risk communities.

In a statement released on Sunday, 8 December, the UNHCR identified infrastructural deficiencies, restrictive policies targeting girls, and a shortage of qualified teachers as key challenges to education in the country.

“The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Afghanistan estimates that eight million people will require educational assistance within the same year,” the statement noted.

The organisation outlined its commitment under the Education Strategy for Afghanistan 2024–2027, developed in collaboration with its partners, to address these gaps. The strategy includes constructing schools, training teachers, and expanding online learning platforms to ensure equitable access to education.

The UNHCR emphasised its advocacy efforts aimed at lifting the bans on education for women and girls, describing them as critical to achieving safe and equitable access to learning opportunities. It highlighted ongoing collaboration with key partners, including UNICEF, UNESCO, and Save the Children, to improve access to education in Afghanistan.

The statement also detailed the UNHCR’s integration of education-focused initiatives with broader programmes, such as conducting gender-based violence awareness sessions for teachers and providing psychological support for students and educators.

The UN’s concerns over worsening gender inequality in Afghanistan come as the Taliban continues to enforce restrictions barring girls from education beyond grade six in schools and universities. Most recently, the Taliban also banned women from attending medical training institutions, sparking further international condemnation.

The UNHCR reiterated its commitment to addressing the educational crisis in Afghanistan, focusing on empowering marginalised groups and tackling the systemic barriers preventing access to education.