The UN Human Rights Chief warned that women in Afghanistan have been systematically removed from public life, facing severe restrictions and discrimination.

Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned about the deteriorating condition of Afghan women during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Speaking on Monday, June 16, Türk stated that women and girls in Afghanistan have been “erased from public life” under the current authorities, raising global concern.

He further emphasized that LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities also face grave threats in Afghanistan, calling for greater international attention to their protection and rights.

Türk also expressed concern over shrinking international support, noting that some countries have reduced humanitarian funding for Afghan women at a time of growing vulnerability.

Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, presented his latest report focusing on access to justice and protections for Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule.

Bennett reiterated that the situation for Afghan women has worsened and urged the creation of a new, independent accountability mechanism to address ongoing human rights abuses.

The UN officials’ remarks come amid continued global alarm over systematic gender apartheid in Afghanistan, where women face bans on education, work, and free movement.

With little accountability in place, human rights experts argue that without strong international mechanisms and consistent pressure, the situation is likely to deteriorate further for women in Afghanistan.

A clash between Taliban fighters and Pakistani troops in Kunar’s Shigal district near the Durand Line resulted in two fatalities.

Local sources in Kunar province report that two Taliban fighters were killed in an armed clash with Pakistani soldiers. The incident occurred in the Takht-e-Khor area of the Shigal district, located near the Durand Line on Sunday, June 15.

The sources revealed that the clash erupted when Pakistani forces attempted to establish a new security post in the region. The Taliban fighters, identified as Shir Alam and Musi, were killed as a result of gunfire from the Pakistani soldiers.

Local officials in Kunar have not yet commented on the skirmish. This latest incident adds to the growing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistani forces, particularly in the border provinces of Afghanistan.

Given the ongoing instability in the area, the situation remains tense, with concerns over the future of border security and the potential for further conflict between the two sides.

The ongoing skirmishes between the Taliban and Pakistan, like the recent clash in Kunar, underscore the fragile relationship between the two. These border conflicts, often driven by territorial disputes and conflicting strategic interests, jeopardize regional stability.

Such incidents strain diplomatic relations and complicate efforts for cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The continued tensions could impede peace and security in the region, highlighting the need for better dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms.

The 59th UN Human Rights Council session will address Afghanistan’s human rights situation, focusing on gender discrimination and apartheid.

The 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will commence on Monday, June 16 in Geneva. The agenda for this session includes a review of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, based on the recent report by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan.

Human rights activists are urging the international community to pay special attention to the complex and critical human rights issues in Afghanistan. The session, running from June 16 to July 9, meets every four months or three times annually to address significant human rights concerns worldwide.

The latest report by Richard Bennett, titled “Access to Justice and Support for Women and Girls and the Impact of Multiple and Intersectional Forms of Discrimination,” highlights the severe situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The report describes their condition as a form of apartheid or gender discrimination and calls for such apartheid to be recognized as an international crime.

Human rights activists expect the session to give particular attention to the critical human rights situation in Afghanistan, given its worsening state. The call for action is becoming increasingly urgent, with concerns about systemic discrimination and the oppression of women and minorities.

Sima Nouri, a prominent human rights advocate, has proposed the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to document crimes in Afghanistan under the current regime, including gender apartheid, ethnic killings, violence against minorities, and the suppression of civil protests.

She advocates for referring Afghanistan’s case to the International Court of Justice through the UN Security Council and calls for a comprehensive political plan that genuinely includes the people of Afghanistan.

The return of the Taliban to power has been marked by severe restrictions on women’s rights, ranging from bans on work and education to limits on free movement. Many observers and activists view these measures as clear evidence of a human rights crisis in Afghanistan, reflecting the systemic nature of gender apartheid.

There is an international push for accountability and justice, as the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan continue to spark global outrage. The call for a collective response, involving both diplomatic pressure and legal accountability, grows louder, urging the UN to take more decisive action.

The session is expected to highlight the urgent need for intervention and strategic diplomatic engagement to address Afghanistan’s ongoing human rights violations and to ensure the protection of its citizens, particularly women and vulnerable minorities.