The UK’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, said the rights of Afghan women and girls “must be respected,” condemning the Taliban’s increasing restrictions and reaffirming Britain’s support for women in the country.
In a post on X, Lindsay said his country continues to stand with Afghan women and girls, including at the United Nations where British officials recently raised concerns about Taliban policies.
“We remain committed to an Afghanistan at peace, with women fully included,” Lindsay said.
His remarks echoed comments made earlier this week by the UK’s representative at a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.
In a separate post, the UK mission to the United Nations said it was “appalled by the intensification of the Taliban’s repression,” including a new penal code that it said legitimizes domestic violence.
The message was shared as the Commission on the Status of Women began its annual session at the United Nations.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limits on employment and strict rules governing movement and public participation.
The policies have been widely condemned by governments and international organizations, which say they violate fundamental rights and exclude women from public life.
