World

UN human rights chief says Taliban has broken commitments since seizing power

A United Nations’ human rights chief on Monday hit out at The Taliban’s record since seizing power in Afghanistan, saying stated commitments did not match realities on the ground such as the status of women.

Michelle Bachelet told the Human Rights Council in Geneva, that Afghanistan was in a “new and perilous phase” with many women and members of ethnic groups and religious communities deeply concerned for their rights. “In contradiction to assurances that the Taliban would uphold women’s rights, over the past three weeks, women have instead been progressively excluded from the public sphere,” she told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The high commissioner’s comments come after the Taliban announced its interim Afghan government last week, which includes a number of hard-line leaders from its reign in the 1990s, but no women. The State Department has sounded a similar note, pointing out the absence of female leaders and the past actions of some of the individuals named to top posts.

The United Nations has allegedly received a number of reports that individuals who previously worked with U.S. companies and security forces have been subject to stop and search, whilst others have made claims of an increase in attacks and threats, according to Bachelet.

She also said credible claims of retaliatory killings of some former members of the Afghan military have been made. Bachelet said an apparatus to watch over rights in Afghanistan is necessary, telling the council “I reiterate my appeal to this Council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis,” according to Reuters.

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: NEWS.TRUST.ORG

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Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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