21.09.2004 - Source: UN General Assembly

Some women allegedly held for crimes committed by husbands or fathers ("Report of the independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan A/59/370") [#28465], [ID 1479]

"Private confinement of women
62. Another abhorrent situation throughout the country has to do with the confinement of women in the custody of tribal elders. Because of the absence of detention facilities for women in the districts (there are only three detention facilities for women in the country), women found to be guilty of acts that may not constitute legal offences are confined to the personal custody of tribal leaders and others. These women are sometimes forced into slave-like conditions outside the reach of the law and are reportedly subject to sexual and physical abuse. The charges brought against them are reported to arise in large part out of allegations of “immoral conduct”, which does not, however, constitute a legal violation. In addition, some cases allegedly involve crimes committed by spouses and fathers for which the women are forced to accept responsibility. The independent expert has notified the President, the Attorney-General, the Minister of the Interior, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of this egregious situation, all of whom have promised to look into it."

Document(s): Open document

10.09.2002 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS : Family members of persons with suspected Tajik or Taleban affiliation threatened in Bamyan province ("Political Conditions, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan. Report on fact-finding mission to Islamabad and Peshawar, Pakistan and Kabul, Afghanistan, 5-19 May 2002") [#8548], [ID 1480]

"UNHCR-Geneva stated that there are examples of Tajiks in the Bamian province having problems related to their anticipated political affiliation in the past and not their ethnic background. The source said that in the central highlands and in Bamian province there has been a change of alliance between Wahdat, Massoud and Taliban forces. People who are suspected of having been affiliated with Tajik commandants (Massoud's forces) or the Taliban, may have problems. The source said that in the Saijhan and Kahmard districts in Bamian province there have been cases where people have been arrested for suspected affiliation with Tajik commandants. Moreover, family members of such people are put under pressure in these districts. The source also said that family members of people thought to have cooperated with the Taliban are subject to pressure and threats in Bamian province. UNHCR had no specific information on how many cases were involved.""

Document(s): Open document

28.01.2002 - Source: UN Commission on the Status of Women

UN Commission on the Status of Women: Fate of women left behind or abducted by retreating Taliban remains unclear ("Discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan, Report of the Secretary-General [E/CN.6/2002/5]") [#28931], [ID 1481]

"There were also reports about women left behind by retreating Taliban, who could become victims of anti-Taliban reactions, as well as women having been abducted from the Kabul area by fleeing Taliban. The fate of these women remains unclear. According to press reports, the Minister of Justice of the Interim Administration promised to investigate cases of the kidnapping of women, but indicated that this would be difficult, as some women were forced to marry Taliban officers or were trafficked outside of Afghanistan. According to the Minister, the Taliban had regularly sold women as sex slaves to fund its regime."

Document(s): Open document

04.12.2001 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch: Foreign Taliban fighters have left behind hundreds of women and children inside Afghanistan ("Afghanistan: Families of Foreign Fighters At Risk") [#4922], [ID 1482]

"Foreign Taliban fighters have left behind hundreds of women and children inside Afghanistan," said Sidney Jones, executive director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "Civilians in Afghanistan are entitled to protection under international humanitarian law, regardless of where they are from or what their husbands and fathers may have done." According to local anti-Taliban administrators contacted by Human Rights Watch, some five hundred foreign women and children, locally believed to be mostly Chechens, have sought refuge in the villages of the eastern Afghanistan provinces of Paktia and Logar. A smaller group of thirty families, apparently from Arab countries, now live in their vehicles and travel nightly around the canyons of central Paktia and southern Logar provinces to avoid the increasing U.S. bombardment of suspected Taliban mountain strongholds in eastern Afghanistan. This convoy is believed to be accompanied by some foreign armed men. Under international humanitarian law, the presence of small numbers of armed men accompanying such a group does not deprive the women and children of their civilian status."

Document(s): Open document