On Thursday, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) Spokeswoman Liz Throssell revealed that in its latest disenfranchisement action, the government has in effect told female civil servants who are barred from working that regardless of their qualifications or experience, their salaries will now be cut to the lowest level.
The Taliban occupied Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, in August 2021 and quickly began eroding women’s rights, including strict dress codes, bans on girls from higher education, and exclusion of women. women from certain jobs, etc
According to Ms. Throssell, the government has informed women that they can return to work when there are “necessary conditions”, but women have not yet received any information about when that will be.
Three years on, steps to allow all female civil servants to return to the workplace have yet to be taken.
“This latest deeply discriminatory and arbitrary decision further deepens the erosion of human rights in Afghanistan.following decisions to limit women and girls’ access to education and employment, limit their freedom of movement and limit their presence in public spaces, entrenching a effectively exclude women from public life,” Ms. Throssell speak.
‘Three billion hours of learning lost’
Thursday also marked 1,000 days since the Taliban banned education for girls after sixth grade — a “sad and sobering milestone” according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“For 1.5 million girls, This systematic exclusion is not only a blatant violation of their right to education, but also leads to shrinking opportunities and declining mental health.” in a public statement.
Ms. Russell said that education not only provides opportunity but also “protects girls from child marriage, malnutrition and other health problems, and strengthens their resilience against violence.” Disasters such as floods, droughts and earthquakes frequently occur in Afghanistan.”
United Nations Women recently reported that this education ban is associated with a 25% increase in child marriage and The rate of early birth increased by 45%.
The UNICEF The director said the agency is working extensively to support all children in Afghanistan.
Stop rights violations
As human rights continue to be violated in Afghanistan, independent rights experts are calling on the Taliban to provide medical aid to detained US citizen Ryan Corbett.
Mr. Corbett was arrested in 2022 while traveling to Afghanistan to do humanitarian work and has been detained since then.
His mental and physical health have seriously declined and Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel treatment, said he must receive medical treatment. at the civil hospital immediately.”
She said detention conditions were “completely inappropriate and significantly below international standards”.
Special Rapporteurs and other UN agencies Eastern Human Rights Association– Appointed rights experts are independent of any government, receive no salary for their work, and serve in their personal capacity.
