ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — The United Nations Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, document S/2026/321 submitted to the UN Security Council, documents 21 cases of sexual violence against women and girls in Afghanistan in 2025, attributed to Taliban officials including members of their security forces. The cases verified by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan include rape, gang rape, forced marriage and forced nudity affecting 15 women and six girls. Some survivors took their own lives as a result of the trauma.
The report states the abuses occurred in a context of acute humanitarian need and widespread impunity. Despite the Taliban’s own declared ban on forced marriage, the report confirms that Taliban officials themselves have been involved in perpetrating and supporting such marriages. Women who protested or challenged Taliban gender policies faced arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence in detention. The report highlights a critical accountability gap: complaints relating to sexual violence are largely handled by male officials, and four years after the Taliban dismantled legal frameworks and specialised courts dealing with violence against women, no independent mechanism exists for women seeking justice.
Taliban authorities also prevented Afghan women working for the United Nations from entering UN offices, further restricting women’s access to protection and support.
One of the most striking findings in the report is the confirmation that the Taliban’s stated ban on forced marriage has been violated by Taliban officials themselves. The pattern reflects a broader documented reality: the Taliban issues edicts that it does not apply to its own members, while enforcing them with maximum severity against Afghan civilians. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, established by the UN Human Rights Council in October 2025, is now collecting and preserving evidence of these crimes for potential future prosecution under international law.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Taliban authorities to immediately stop all acts of sexual violence and repeal all laws, policies and practices restricting the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls. The European Parliament voted 480 to 5 on 21 May 2026 to sanction Taliban leaders and condemn gender apartheid in Afghanistan. The Thursday Times reported on that resolution here. The Taliban have not responded to the UN Secretary-General’s call. UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett continues to monitor the situation and has called for accountability measures including ICC prosecution of Taliban leaders responsible for crimes against women and girls.
