UN Continues Engagement with Taliban in Afghanistan

The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to engage with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, despite the group's recent enactment of a strict 'Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.' This law imposes severe restrictions on women's rights, including banning their voices in public and requiring them to cover their bodies entirely, while also enforcing rules on men and media. The Taliban has halted cooperation with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) following criticism of this law, which has been described as a 'distressing vision' for the country's future. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the organization's dedication to human rights and urged the Taliban to pursue more diplomatic engagement. Human rights experts have condemned the law as a significant setback for rights in Afghanistan, reminiscent of the Taliban's previous oppressive regime in the 1990s.