UN EXPERTS PUSH FOR CODIFYING TALIBAN GENDER DISCRIMINATION AS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

January 24, 2026:

A group of United Nations experts on January 19, 2026 called on member states to recognize “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity in a proposed international treaty, citing the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women, girls, and LGBT+ people in Afghanistan.
In a joint statement, the experts, including Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, called on states to ensure meaningful participation of Afghan women leaders and gender justice activists in upcoming negotiations on the Treaty on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity.
“For the treaty to be a transformative instrument of justice, it cannot be drafted in a vacuum,” the experts said, noting that its legitimacy depends on the involvement of those living under the abuses the treaty seeks to address.
They described Afghanistan under Taliban rule as a clear example of why survivor input is essential in shaping international legal standards. The experts urged member states to show solidarity with Afghan women and others targeted because of their gender by including them in negotiations and considering conditions on the ground.
The statement recommended that states support codifying “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity and include gender-responsive provisions throughout the treaty. It also called for additional support for Afghan women and gender-diverse individuals, including resisting the normalization of the Taliban authorities, expanding legal migration pathways, and providing sustained funding for women-led civil society groups.
“Naming gender apartheid is a necessary step toward dismantling it,” the experts stressed.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s rights, barring most girls from secondary and higher education, restricting women’s access to employment and public spaces, and limiting their participation in social and political life.
UN experts, rights groups, and activists have repeatedly said the scale and systematic nature of these policies amount to “gender apartheid,” describing them as an institutionalized system designed to subjugate women solely based on their gender.
The Taliban say their policies are based on their interpretation of Islamic law and have shown no sign of reversing course despite repeated international appeals and widespread criticism, including from Islamic countries and organizations.