United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the 79th U.N. General Assembly, once again criticized the Taliban’s policies, stating that laws in Afghanistan are being used to entrench the “systematic oppression” of women and girls.
Guterres, who has previously condemned the Taliban’s restrictions on women, warned that these ongoing limitations are hindering Afghanistan’s progress.
“In Afghanistan, laws are being used to lock in the systematic oppression of women and girls,” he said.
This comes as at a side event at the UN General Assembly on Monday, Sept. 23, Guterres condemned the Taliban’s new law, stating that it formalizes the systematic removal of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a UN session titled “The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan,” Guterres emphasized that Afghan women and girls are now largely confined to their homes, with almost no access to education, employment, or freedom of movement.
“They are even banned from singing or raising their voices in public,” Guterres told participants. “This law is the latest in a series of edicts and decrees that strip Afghan women and girls of their rights and freedoms across all areas of life.”
According to Guterres, Afghan women are facing high rates of gender-based violence, including so-called honor killings, and a rise in maternal mortality. He revealed that many Afghan women have informed the UN that they feel unsafe, isolated, and powerless as they lose the ability to provide for their families or contribute to their communities.
