The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday marked International Human Rights Day by calling on the Taliban to take “concrete steps” to align with international human rights obligations, warning that essential rights remain out of reach for millions of Afghans, particularly women and girls.
In a statement, UNAMA said this year’s global theme — human rights as “everyday essentials” — underscores that rights such as education, healthcare, work, and civic participation are not abstract ideals but the basic conditions needed for a dignified life.
“Women and girls continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment and participation in public life, undermining their fundamental rights and the country’s future,” the mission said. It also noted uneven access to healthcare and rising vulnerabilities among communities.
UNAMA highlighted ongoing concerns over Afghans being involuntarily returned from neighbouring countries, saying women, former government and security personnel, civil society members and journalists remain at risk of reprisals and other abuses.
Georgette Gagnon, Officer in Charge of UNAMA and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said respecting rights was “indispensable to recovery.”
“Human rights are not optional. They are the everyday essentials that sustain life. Ensuring women and girls can learn, work and participate fully is indispensable to Afghanistan’s recovery,” Gagnon said, urging the Taliban to move closer to meeting international standards.
Fiona Frazer, the UN Human Rights representative in Afghanistan, said essential rights — from education and livelihoods to freedom — “must be afforded to all Afghans,” adding that too many, especially women and girls, remain denied these basic protections.
The mission said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 77 years ago, remained a guiding framework amid Afghanistan’s political and economic crisis. Upholding its principles, UNAMA said, offers the clearest path to reducing conflict, poverty and division.
UNAMA called on the Taliban authorities, Afghan communities and international partners to reaffirm their commitment to human rights as the “bedrock” of the country’s recovery.
Taliban have repeatedly said they respect human rights according to their interpretation of Islamic law, but have issued sweeping restrictions on women and girls, prompting global condemnation
