Taliban authorities have increased restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan in recent months: UN

The United Nations said that Taliban authorities have further increased restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan in recent months, including in education and employment.

 

The UN in a report on the human rights situation issued today said, it has recorded instances in which the Taliban have enforced previously announced limitations on women's freedom of movement and employment. The report covers developments in May and June.

 

It said, Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health has announced that only males will be allowed to take exams to pursue specialized medical studies.

 

That follows a ban on female medical students taking graduation



exams announced earlier and a prohibition on women attending universities issued last December, the report said.

 

It said, in early May, two Afghan female staff of an international non-governmental organization were arrested by Taliban forces at an airport because they were traveling without a male companion. There have also been reports of physical violence against women.

According to media reports, despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during their previous period in power, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO forces were pulling out.