UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett says women and girls in Afghanistan still face major barriers to healthcare; warning Taliban restrictions are weakening the country’s health system.
Marking World Health Day on April 17, Bennett said restrictions on movement, education and female health workers are leading to suffering and preventable deaths.
He recently released a report on women’s and girls’ right to health in Afghanistan, finding that Taliban policies systematically violate their fundamental rights.
The UN rights expert has repeatedly warned that without urgent international action, millions of Afghans, especially women and girls, will be deprived of essential healthcare.
Following the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s health system deteriorated, with hundreds of clinics closed.
The United Nations has recently warned that the need for healthcare services in the country has sharply increased, while the Taliban have repeatedly called for medical assistance.
