AJC Executive Director Urges UN to Condemn Taliban Regime for Human Rights Abuses Against Women

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 11 April 2001

American Jewish Committee Executive Director David A. Harris has called on the UN Commission on Human Rights to condemn the Taliban regime in Afghanistan for its wholesale abuse of women.

"We are profoundly concerned for the indescribably oppressive conditions endured by women living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan," said Mr. Harris in his testimony before the UN Commission on Human Rights. "It is abundantly clear that the Taliban are perpetrating unprecedented, systematic and widespread gender discrimination against women."

Mr. Harris' appearance on Monday was his third before the Commission during its current session in Geneva. He previously testified during a discussion on Israel, and separately with regard to violations of human rights in Iran. (www.ajc.org)

"The Taliban's grotesque interpretation of Islamic law enforced on the lives of Afghan women deny them their most fundamental human rights, indeed suffocate their very existence," said Mr. Harris. "Their lives are restricted to such an extent that these women are effectively reduced to silent ghosts."

Employment for Afghan women has been outlawed, they are denied access even to the most basic health services, and education for girls over the age of eight has been prohibited. "This ongoing exclusion from any activity deemed to be 'un-Islamic' has resulted in virtual house arrest for women," said Mr. Harris.

Mr. Harris pointed out that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have extended recognition to the Taliban regime and, moreover, Pakistan has provided indispensable assistance to keep the Taliban in power.

"Pakistan not only legitimizes the Taliban's ruthless actions against women, but must, as a consequence, share responsibility for this documented pattern of human rights abuses," Mr. Harris said.

Mr. Harris appealed to all members of the Commission on Human Rights – indeed all UN member states – to reaffirm their commitment to implementing the laudable aims of the 1995 Beijing Declaration, which seek "to advance the goals of equality, development, and peace for all women in the interest of all humanity."

"The UN Charter, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and many international conventions enshrine the full and equal rights of both men and women. With these protections established, women should no longer have to endure second-class status anywhere, much less, as in the case in Afghanistan, no status at all," said Mr. Harris.

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