Guterres Compares the Situation of Women in Afghanistan to the Most Egregious Repressive Systems in History

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) today, Sunday (September 29), Guterres wrote that the current situation in Afghanistan can be compared to some of the most egregious repressive systems in modern history.

These remarks by the UN Secretary-General follow a warning from four countries: Canada, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands, who have issued a joint statement declaring that they will sue the Taliban before the International Court of Justice for violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women if the Taliban do not end gender discrimination. Over 20 countries have supported this statement.

It's worth noting that Afghanistan is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, but the Taliban government, which is not recognized as the government of Afghanistan, has not adhered to this convention.

Since taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls. Over the past three years, women and girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of their most basic rights, including education and work, by the group.

Human rights experts describe the Taliban's policies against women as "gender apartheid" and warn that the group's actions may be considered crimes of gender persecution.

However, the Taliban say that accusing the group of human rights abuses and gender discrimination is "unjustified" and is "false propaganda" spread by a number of women against the group.