The UN human rights chief on Monday criticized the Taliban’s record since seizing power in Afghanistan, saying the commitments do not match ground realities such as the status of women.
Michelle Bachelet told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that Afghanistan was in a “new and dangerous phase” in which many women and members of ethnic groups and religious communities were deeply concerned for their rights.
“Importantly, and contrary to assurances that the Taliban will uphold women’s rights, over the past three weeks, women have been progressively excluded from the public sphere,” she said in her speech.
Bachelet expressed dismay at the structure of the new Taliban government, noting the absence of women and its dominance by ethnic Pashtuns.
He also pointed to other broken promises of pardoning former civil servants and security officials associated with the previous government, and a ban on house-to-house searches.