Women survivors of gender-based violence being jailed by Taliban: UN Report

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan is sending Afghan women to prison to protect them from genderbased violence Khaama Press reported citing the Office of the Deputy of the United Nations in AfghanistanThe United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA has stated that genderbased violence against women and girls existed in Afghanistan even before the dominance of the Taliban However with the advent of the new regime the social life of women has been limited and family violence against women especially by their husbands has increasedThe UNAMA office added that before the reestablishment of the Taliban there were 23 shelters for the protection of women survivors of genderbased violence in the country none of which are now active The Taliban have also deemed protective shelters for women safe houses and declared them unnecessaryThe de facto Taliban regime has deemed protective shelters for women or safe houses as originating from Western culture and declared their existence unnecessary Khaama Press reported The officials of the Taliban administration have stated that they take commitments from caretakers of violenceaffected women to not harm themThe UN report also says that women are no longer working in the judiciary or law enforcement and are not allowed to deal with crimes of genderbased violence Women are only permitted to attend work when called upon by their male supervisorsIn cases where women survivors of violence had no male relatives or there were safety concerns they were sent to prisons similar to addicts and the homeless the report stated Meanwhile the Purple Saturday Movement managed by a number of protesting women has expressed concern in a statement regarding the realities reflected in this report according to Khaama PressImprisoning women who are themselves victims of genderbased violence is not only against Islam and Sharia but in reality it is a horrific form of mental emotional and physical abuse of women that must be stopped immediately the statement of the movement reads UNAMA has further stated that since the Taliban came to power again on August 15 2021 the handling of genderbased violence complaints has been unclear and inconsistentThe Office of the Deputy of the United Nations has also emphasised that women who have experienced violence are now afraid of seeking official justice for fear of arrest Khaama Press reported More than two years have passed since the Taliban banned girls from studying beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan and there is no sign of reopening the schools to girls studying above sixth gradeSince the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 they have issued several decrees that impose restrictions on women Afghanistans women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power Girls and women in the wartorn country have no access to education employment and public spaces Khaama Press reportedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever