UN report: Human rights situation in Afghanistan ‘deteriorating dramatically’

A new report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned that life for ordinary Afghans, especially women and girls, has worsened sharply under the rule of the Islamic Emirate.

The report, covering the period between August 2025 to January 2026, was presented at the latest session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

According to findings, policies and decrees imposed by the authorities have severely restricted access to education, employment, healthcare, and public life for women.

“The de facto authorities have, in effect, criminalized the presence of women and girls in public life,” said UN Human Rights chief, Volker Türk. “[…] Discrimination affects their healthcare, their access to civic space, and their freedom of movement and expression.”

The report also raised alarm over broader human rights concerns, including arbitrary detention, corporal punishment, shrinking civic space, and increasing restrictions on freedom of expression. UN officials say these developments reflect a continued deterioration in protections for basic rights and dignity.

The OHCHR report further warns that ongoing policies risk deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, as restrictions on women—especially in sectors like healthcare—undermine essential services and long-term development.

The international community has repeatedly called on the Islamic Emirate to reverse restrictive measures and uphold international human rights obligations.

The Islamic Emirate, however, has maintained that laws in Afghanistan are based on Sharia, which must be respected by the international community.