Afghan women and girls make a significant contribution to shaping Afghanistan's future. Achieving peace, stability and economic development in the country requires their equal participation in shaping Afghanistan's future.
We remain deeply concerned about the continuing restrictions on girls' access to education in Afghanistan and call on the Taliban to respect the right to education and fulfil their commitment to reopen schools for all girls.
We are deeply disappointed by the increasing restrictions imposed by the Taliban that affect the human rights of Afghan women.
The Taliban directive requiring women and girls to cover their faces in public and not to leave their homes except when necessary and accompanied by a man restricts their human rights, which are universal and inalienable. We also deplore the fact that their families may be punished to enforce compliance with these restrictions.
Women in Afghanistan should be free to choose how they express themselves in accordance with their religion, and their freedom of movement and participation in society should not be restricted.
The international community cannot regard the recent restrictions as an isolated incident. The Taliban have adopted other measures restricting the human rights of women and girls.
The human rights being violated include the rights to education, work, freedom of movement, opinion and expression, including the freedom to travel unaccompanied, access the workplace and express themselves in public.
These decisions contradict the assurances repeatedly given by the Taliban that they would respect the human rights of all Afghans.
All Afghans should be able to enjoy their human rights, which are indivisible and inalienable, as enshrined in the fundamental international human rights instruments accepted by all members of the United Nations.
We call on the Taliban to reconsider their decisions restricting the rights of women and girls, so that they can make their own decisions, access education and employment, and participate fully and equally in society.
We will continue to judge the Taliban by their actions, not their words.
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