The UN Security Council has said it is deeply concerned by a recent decision by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to ban women from medical education, which could leave millions of women and girls without health care in the future.
The council on Friday criticized the “increasing erosion” of human rights under the Taliban, especially for women and girls, who are denied access to education beyond the sixth grade, economic opportunities, participation in public life, freedom of movement and other basic amenities. Have been deprived.
Officials had not previously confirmed reports that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had ordered educational institutions to stop providing medical courses for women. Women and girls in Afghanistan can only be treated by female doctors and health professionals.
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In a resolution adopted unanimously on Friday, the Security Council criticized not only the medical education ban, but also the Taliban’s “vices and virtues” directive issued in August, which restricts women’s rights, including their Including preventing the voice from being heard in public.
The resolution also extends for 14 months the jurisdiction of the UN expert team monitoring sanctions against the Taliban.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces after two decades of war. No country officially recognizes them as the government of Afghanistan.
The United Nations has said that recognition is almost impossible while restrictions on female education and employment remain in place and women cannot go out in public without a male guardian.
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Roza Otunbayeva, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, told the council this week that women and girls “face progressive elimination from almost all spheres of life.”
He said the Taliban had announced in early September that female students would be barred from attending medical institutions and higher education classes, which would have serious consequences.
“If fully implemented, it would have a devastating impact on women and girls in particular, but also men and boys, entire communities, and the entire country – by depriving Afghans of a functioning health care system that is open to all.” Is.”
“I strongly urge the actual authorities to reconsider,” Otunbayeva said.
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