UN Experts Demand Action Against Taliban's Ban on Women and Girls in Afghan Sports

“For nearly three years, the Taliban has imposed an unacceptable ban on women and girls in Afghanistan from engaging in any sports, a restriction unparalleled by any other country,” the experts stated.

UN experts have urged national and international sports organizations to take decisive action against the Taliban's ban on women and girls participating in sports in Afghanistan.

"For nearly three years, the Taliban has imposed an unacceptable ban on women and girls in Afghanistan from engaging in any sports, a restriction unparalleled by any other country," the experts stated.

They described the ban as part of a broader system of gender discrimination and oppression by the Taliban, which may amount to crimes against humanity. Despite this ban, Afghan women athletes living in exile are competing in the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, representing Afghanistan and the refugee team, thanks to the intervention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Olympic team, which does not feature the symbols of the current Taliban regime, includes three women and three men. However, the Taliban does not recognize these female athletes.

"It is crucial that the achievements of Afghan women athletes are highlighted on the global stage, particularly as they are systematically erased from public life in their home country," the experts noted. "Their participation in international competitions challenges the Taliban's oppressive policies and exclusionary practices."

In a letter to the IOC, the UN experts called for enhanced support and resources for Afghan women athletes from the entire Olympic movement, including International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees. They reminded these bodies of their human rights obligations under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and the Olympic Charter. The experts expressed concern that some members of the Olympic Movement may be failing to uphold their commitments to the equal and non-discriminatory participation of women and girls.

"The severe violation of Afghan women and girls' rights, including their exclusion from sports, must come to an end," the experts emphasized. "Cultural arguments should not be used to justify human rights violations, including the right to participate in sports."

They urged international sports organizations to challenge the Taliban's oppressive policies and support female Afghan athletes globally, avoiding any actions that could be seen as complicity with discriminatory practices. While the IOC's support for a gender-balanced Afghanistan team at the Paris Olympics is a positive step, the experts stressed that further actions are necessary.