Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Sunday that Taliban rule in Afghanistan has caused the world’s worst women’s rights crisis. The Taliban have been Afghanistan’s ruling party for about three years after President Joe Biden withdrew the US military presence from Afghanistan.

HRW reported: “Afghanistan is the only country where girls are not allowed to attend school after sixth grade.” It listed abuses by the Taliban, such as gender-based restrictions on women’s freedom of movement, employment, education, access to health care, and participation in sports and amusement parks. HRW also noted that the Taliban does not adequately protect women from sexual violence. The organization said: “The Taliban’s bans on education guarantee a future shortage of female health workers.”

According to a UN press release on February 2, the Taliban have arrested women for wearing “bad hijabs.” The UN states: “(T)he Taliban reportedly claimed that (the arrested women) were wearing colorful and tight clothing,” which violates the Taliban’s May 2022 rule on “proper hijab.” It detailed that the arrested women were held in crowded rooms under occasional violence and were only allowed access to Regard one meal a day until the male authorities of their communities guaranteed compliance with the rule of “proper hijab”.

HRW Afghanistan researcher Fereshta Abbasi said:

The third anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power is a grim reminder of the human rights crisis in Afghanistan, but it should also be a call to action. Governments working with the Taliban should consistently remind them that their abuses against women and girls and all Afghans violate Afghanistan’s obligations under international law. Donors should provide assistance that is geared towards reaching those most in need and finding lasting solutions to Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.