Amnesty International Warning: Safe Houses for Women Victims of Violence Closed in Afghanistan
According to Amnesty International, the Taliban has closed or destroyed support networks and safe houses for women and girls who are victims of violence in Afghanistan. Prisoners accused of violence against women have been released across Afghanistan.
According to Amnesty International’s report, since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, safe houses and support centers for women and girls have been systematically closed, destroyed, or occupied by the Taliban throughout the country.
All services provided by safe houses have been eliminated, and women who sought refuge in these places due to domestic violence are now once again facing serious risk of violence and even death. This situation has also put support workers at risk.
Amnesty International stated that defense lawyers, judges, government officials, and other individuals who played a role in providing services to safe houses are also facing the risk of violence and even death.
The organization has called on the Taliban to revive the Ministry of Women and allow safe houses to resume operations. It also demands ensuring that all staff members of safe houses can work freely without fear of retaliation.
One of the Taliban’s first actions after seizing power in Afghanistan was to rename the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
Amnesty International stated that the fact that women and girls, according to Taliban regulations, are only permitted to travel in public places when accompanied by a man, has further complicated their situation. Additionally, prisoners who were convicted of violence against women and girls have been released from prisons across Afghanistan, while survivors of violence have been arrested.
Agnès Callamard, head of Amnesty International, says that the indiscriminate release of prisoners by the Taliban has created serious dangers to the lives of survivors of domestic violence.
Amnesty International has also called on the international community to provide immediate funding for protective services and to demand that the Taliban fulfill its responsibilities toward women and girls, especially survivors of sexual violence.
Source: DW
