The 2023 Human Rights Report issued by the United States Department of State delineates a notable regression in women’s rights within Afghanistan.

The report outlines multiple instances of human rights violations, emphasizing the Taliban’s imposition of stringent limitations on women’s access to education and employment, effectively relegating them to domestic roles.

Notably, the Department of State observes a lack of reversals or softening of Taliban decrees regarding women’s rights throughout the year, with new edicts further contradicting existing laws and international obligations.
The report enumerates significant human rights concerns, including extrajudicial killings, severe physical abuse, egregious prison conditions, unjust detentions and abductions, and civilian casualties due to conflicts involving unlawful recruitment of child soldiers by both the Taliban and ISIS-K.

Additionally, serious issues such as judicial independence, privacy infringements, and punishment of family members for alleged offenses are highlighted, alongside restrictions on freedom of expression, media censorship, and interference with peaceful assembly.

Instances of child recruitment and the use of child soldiers, violence against civilians and journalists, and reprisal killings of former government affiliates are also documented.

Moreover, the report sheds light on harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, and widespread restrictions on internet freedom and media access imposed by the Taliban.
The detainment of political prisoners, property seizures, and forced displacement, particularly affecting Hazara communities, are addressed as well.

Overall, the report underscores the rampant disregard for the rule of law and official impunity for human rights violators in Afghanistan, prompting serious concerns from international bodies and human rights organizations regarding the erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms in the country.