UN experts call for gender apartheid to be classified as a crime against humanity

United Nations human rights experts have called for “gender apartheid” to be formally classified as a distinct crime against humanity. This demand comes as the Taliban regime approaches five years of rule in Afghanistan, marked by what experts describe as institutionalized gender-based repression.

The experts highlighted that an entire generation of Afghan girls has been denied secondary education. They noted that the Taliban’s intentional and targeted deprivation of fundamental rights constitutes a systematic pattern of oppression and domination.

Recent legal developments, including a new Code of Criminal Procedure, have further codified these restrictions. Experts pointed to decrees that permit violence against women provided it does not “break bones” or “leave obvious bruises.” Additionally, regulations regarding the separation of spouses and requirements for male guardians have made it increasingly difficult for women to access healthcare or escape abusive marriages.