AT News
KABUL – As the world braces for the pivotal UN-convened meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar, Amnesty International has called for an end to impunity for Taliban atrocities and human rights abuses. Deprose Muchena, Senior Director at Amnesty International, has called for the need for action to safeguard the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls.
“The upcoming Doha meeting is a make-or-break moment,” Muchena asserts. “The Taliban’s flagrant disregard for human rights obligations cannot go unchecked. From stifling freedom of expression to perpetuating gender-based oppression, their actions demand immediate redress.”
With the Taliban’s grip on power tightening, international stakeholders are urged to reject complacency. The UN Secretary-General, alongside regional and global envoys, must demand an immediate reversal of Taliban-imposed restrictions on women and girls. Furthermore, the release of arbitrarily detained individuals is non-negotiable.
The stage is set for a pivotal gathering on February 18-19, 2024, where the fate of Afghan rights hangs in the balance. Amnesty International, alongside nine other organizations, has implored the UN Secretary-General to prioritize the inclusion of Afghan civil society, particularly women’s rights defenders, in the discussions.
The situation on the ground is dire. Taliban-enforced dress codes and draconian penalties have plunged Afghan women and girls into deeper repression. Behind closed doors, dissenters face torture, imprisonment, and enforced disappearance, constituting egregious crimes against humanity.