"UN Urged to Address Escalating Mental Health Crisis for Afghan Women Amidst 'Gender Apartheid'"

The head of UN Women, Sima Bahous, has called on the United Nations Security Council to support governments in legally declaring the Taliban's crackdown on women and girls in Afghanistan as "gender apartheid." More than 50 Taliban edicts are being enforced with increasing severity, exacerbating mental health issues and suicidal thoughts among women. Bahous urged the council to codify gender apartheid in international law to appropriately respond to the Taliban's assault on women's rights. The Taliban's restrictions on women have led to a rise in child marriage, child labor, and mental health issues. The UN envoy for Afghanistan welcomed the recent visit of Islamic scholars to focus on girls' education and women's rights, emphasizing their importance in Islamic governance. However, the Taliban leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, holds the final decision-making power, hindering potential changes in the Taliban's policies. The UN envoy also appealed for support for the $3.2 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan, as many programs have been forced to close, leaving millions of Afghans facing acute food insecurity.