France on Friday (September 25) condemned what it called the Taliban’s “structured violations” of the rights of women and girls during a session at the United Nations.
Isabelle Rome, France’s Ambassador for Human Rights, said her country will not compromise on the rights of Afghan women and girls.
She also strongly denounced the Taliban’s “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law.
Over the past four years, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s education, employment, and freedom of movement—policies widely seen as a major barrier to Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community.
Experts believe these policies have pushed Afghanistan into further isolation and intensified the suffering of its people.
During the UN General Assembly session on Friday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, also urged the Taliban to respect human rights, particularly women’s rights.
A day earlier, four regional countries—Russia, Iran, China, and Pakistan—issued similar calls, stressing the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan that respects the rights of women and men, and of all ethnic and religious groups.
They underscored that women’s access to education, employment, public participation, freedom of movement, justice, and essential services is crucial for Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and prosperity.
