Tolo News anchors Sonia Niazi and Khatereh Ahmadi, while covering their faces, work in a newsroom at Tolo TV station in Kabul, Afghanistan May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Ali Khara

UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to “promptly reverse” policies and practices that restrict the human rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls.

The 15-member council accepted the Norwegian-drafted statement nearly two weeks after discussing the situation behind closed doors. He said he was “deeply concerned by the growing erosion of respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban”.

Earlier this month, the Taliban ordered women to cover their faces in public, a return to a policy characteristic of the Islamist group’s former extremist regime. They also asked broadcasters to ensure that female presenters at local stations cover their faces when on air.

“Members of the Security Council called on the Taliban to swiftly reverse the policies and practices that currently restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls,” the Security Council statement read.

Under the former Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, women had to cover themselves, could not work and girls were banned from school. But after taking power last August, the Taliban said they would respect women’s rights.

However, in March the Taliban backtracked on their announcement to open high schools for girls, saying they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up in accordance with Islamic law for their reopening.

The Security Council “reiterated its call on the Taliban to honor their commitments to reopen schools for all female students without further delay”.

Reporting by Michelle Nichols; edited by Grant McCool

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