Rights Groups Seek Accountability for Taliban's Systematic Violations Against Women

The Taliban's regime in Afghanistan has imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, driving them out of public life and denying them basic rights such as education and work. Reports indicate over 100 restrictions on women's freedoms, with those defying the laws facing arrest and brutal treatment, including in prisons. Human Rights Watch has highlighted the worsening crisis, calling for international accountability and legal action against the Taliban under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A coalition of Afghan and international organizations is backing a legal initiative from several countries to hold the Taliban accountable for its violations. Activists have labeled the situation as 'gender apartheid' and are urging the global community to respond to the escalating oppression. Despite Taliban dismissals of international legal efforts, human rights groups stress the importance of continued advocacy and action for Afghan women's rights.