KABUL— Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, reaffirmed his commitment to standing with Afghan women as they continue to face severe restrictions under Taliban rule.
“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, courage, equality, and achievements of women everywhere—especially in Afghanistan,” Bennett wrote on X on Saturday.
Bennett has previously called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to formally recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan, as Taliban-imposed restrictions on women have reached an unprecedented level.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have banned women from education, work, public spaces, and basic freedoms, effectively erasing them from public life.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also renewed its call for the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls.
In a statement marking International Women’s Day, UNAMA urged member states to take concrete action, amplify Afghan women’s voices, and invest in their leadership and resilience.
