Humanists International called on the international community to continue applying pressure on the Taliban to reverse discriminatory laws and practices targeting women and girls in Afghanistan. Leon Langdon, Advocacy Officer for Humanists International, delivered the statement during the General Debate at the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, addressing the severe human rights violations that have occurred since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The statement responded to the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and supported numerous requests contained therein, including the call on the Taliban to respect international human rights law and the rights of women and girls. Humanists International, however, lamented the fact that the term “gender apartheid” was not used in the High Commissioner’s Report. This language was used in a report by the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls.
In spite of the deteriorating human rights situation, Humanists International called for continued two-way engagement on the humanitarian front. The Taliban have routinely curtailed access to outside actors since its takeover in 2021, while the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that in 2024, 23.7 million people, including 5.9 million women and 5.4 million men, require humanitarian aid. Continued humanitarian funding and access is critical.
This statement followed a vote of Humanists International’s General Assembly in Singapore at the beginning of the month, which called on the Taliban to respect international human rights law, allow access to outside human rights and humanitarian monitors, and to safeguard the rights of women and girls.
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