UN Reports Deteriorating Human Rights in Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule
UNITED NATIONS (Afghan Verified) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk presented a report detailing a severe deterioration in the human rights situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The report states that 21.9 million Afghans, nearly half the population, will require humanitarian assistance this year amid an economic crisis worsened by reduced international aid, the return of nearly three million Afghan migrants from neighboring countries in 2025 and ongoing drought.
Taliban policies and decrees since taking power in 2021 have severely restricted the rights and freedoms of women and girls, including bans on education beyond the sixth grade and at universities, limitations on employment, access to public services and freedom of movement.
The UN document highlights increased curbs on freedom of expression, including arbitrary detentions of journalists and the removal of works by female authors from libraries. It also documents continued public executions and floggings by the Taliban.
Millions of Afghans live in extreme poverty, deprived of basic rights to food, water, education and health care, according to Türk. Afghanistan International reported a 48-hour nationwide internet blackout in 2025 that disrupted services, while Amu TV noted at least 12 public executions since 2021, including two recently, and 70 civilians killed with 478 injured in border clashes with Pakistan over the last three months of 2025.
Türk urged the Taliban to repeal discriminatory measures and called on the international community to provide support and halt forced deportations of Afghan migrants.
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Where reports agree
- UN report by Volker Türk on human rights deterioration under Taliban
- 21.9 million Afghans need humanitarian aid
- Aid reduction, 3 million migrant returns, drought worsening crisis
- Taliban policies harming women: bans on secondary/higher education, work, movement
- Restrictions on expression, journalists detained, female authors' books removed
- Executions and public flogging continue
- Extreme poverty depriving basics
Where reports differ
- Specifics like medical exams without women, salary cuts for female employees, clothing restrictions, UN office access limits (Amu TV only)
- Two earthquakes in 2025 (Amu TV only)
- Civilian casualties from Pakistan border clashes (Amu TV only)
- Internet blackout (Afghanistan International only)
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