Before the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, there were 23 government-run women’s protection centers in the country. These centers offered shelter to women who were victims of gender-based violence. However, the Taliban, now in power, considers these centers a ‘Western concept’ and is sending such women to prison, as reported by the UN.
The Taliban officials argue that there’s no need for these shelters, dismissing them as Western ideas. Consequently, women without male relatives to stay with or those whose male relatives are deemed unsafe are being sent to prison. The UN report reveals that authorities are even asking male relatives to provide commitments or sworn statements ensuring they won’t harm their female family members, with local elders witnessing the guarantee.
The report points out that women are being sent to prison for their protection, similar to how prisons have been used to house drug addicts and homeless people in Kabul.
Since the Taliban seized power, there has been an alarming increase in human rights violations and gender inequality. Women and girls are increasingly confined to their homes, facing restrictions on education, jobs, and basic rights. They are prohibited from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade, including university, and are also restricted from public spaces like parks and many jobs. Additionally, women must be accompanied by a male chaperone for journeys exceeding 72 km and adhere to a specific dress code.
In July of the current year, the Taliban issued a decree closing the last places where women could go outside their homes or family environments—parlors and beauty salons. Afghanistan has long been ranked among the world’s worst places for females to be born, and since the Taliban’s takeover, the situation has worsened. Millions of girls are out of school, and there’s a significant rise in child marriages, violence, and widespread abuse.
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