On the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

Parliament's resolution condemns the Taliban's public executions, floggings and repression of women and girls in Afghanistan, which it calls gender persecution and gender apartheid.¶¶¶ It calls on the de-facto authorities to halt executions and cruel punishments, respect fundamental rights, and restore women's and girls' full participation in public life, education and work.¶¶ It insists on strict, conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the Council's five benchmarks, and supports accountability through the ICC investigation and a UN Independent Investigative Mechanism.¶¶ It urges more humanitarian aid, including humanitarian visas for persecuted women and girls, and calls on regional actors to keep pressure on the de-facto authorities and abstain from forced returns of Afghans.¶¶

Key points

1. Public executions occurred in February 2024, with three men shot by relatives of individuals purportedly killed by the convicts, before de-facto court officials and the public.¶
2. On 25 February 2024 a 12-year-old boy and a man were publicly flogged for immorality, and a woman and a man convicted of adultery were publicly flogged 35 times; at least 10 more were flogged in the following days.¶
3. Since taking over in August 2021, the Taliban have de-facto abolished previously enforced laws, including those protecting women, and ordered judges to fully implement Sharia law.¶
4. Restrictions bar women from work, travel and healthcare without a male relative, and limits on education beyond sixth grade leave over 1 million girls without access to education.¶
5. UNAMA documented de-facto police campaigns to enforce the hijab decree in Kabul and Daykundi provinces, particularly in areas dominated by Hazara and Tajik minorities.¶
6. Parliament expresses concern about the human rights crisis since the Taliban takeover and reiterates its commitment to the Afghan people and the rights they enjoyed over the past 20 years.¶
7. It condemns the Taliban's enforcement of Sharia law and repression of women and girls as gender persecution and gender apartheid, and says the de-facto authorities must halt executions, cruel punishments, persecution of LGBTQ people and discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities.¶
8. It calls on the de-facto authorities to respect fundamental freedoms and human rights and to restore the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in public life, particularly education and work.¶
9. It insists on strict, conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the Council's five benchmarks and the UN Special Rapporteur's recommendations, holding perpetrators accountable including through restrictive measures.¶
10. It supports Afghan civil society's calls to hold the de-facto authorities accountable, particularly via the ICC investigation and a UN Independent Investigative Mechanism.¶
11. It urges increased humanitarian aid to Afghans, including humanitarian visas for persecuted women and girls and funding for basic needs and livelihood support.¶
12. It calls on regional actors to keep pressure on the de-facto Afghan authorities and to abstain from forced returns of Afghans.¶

Who is affected

• Afghan women and girls, who face restrictions on work, travel, healthcare and education beyond sixth grade.¶¶
• The Taliban de-facto authorities, which are told to halt executions and cruel punishments and respect fundamental rights.¶¶
• LGBTQ people and ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, who face persecution and discrimination.¶
• Regional actors, which are asked to keep pressure on the de-facto authorities and abstain from forced returns of Afghans.¶
• Afghans in need of aid, including persecuted women and girls eligible for humanitarian visas.¶

Figures and deadlines

• February 2024, when public executions occurred.¶
• 25 February 2024, when a 12-year-old boy and a man were publicly flogged for immorality.¶
• 35 times, the number of public floggings given to a woman and a man convicted of adultery.¶
• At least 10 individuals publicly flogged in the days after 25 February 2024.¶
• August 2021, when the Taliban took over the country.¶
• Over 1 million girls left without access to education due to limits beyond sixth grade.¶
• Five benchmarks set by the Council for engagement with the Taliban.¶