The Taliban took power from the Western-backed government in August 2021. They say they respect the rights of women according to their interpretation of Islamic law.
Western governments have said the Taliban need to change course on women’s rights, including a U-turn on signs of opening girls’ high schools for any path toward formal recognition of the Taliban government.
Separately, a spokesman for the United Nations Human Rights Office called on Taliban officials to immediately end the use of public flogging in Afghanistan.
Raveena Shamdasani said the office had documented several incidents this month in which a woman and a man were given 39 lashes each for spending time alone outside marriage.
