The United Nations Security Council has reported that Taliban officials and members were involved in cases of sexual violence against Afghan women and girls.
According to the report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented at least 21 cases of sexual violence during 2025, including rape and gang rape involving 15 women and six girls.
The report states that some victims were subjected to sexual assault, forced nudity, and forced marriage.
The United Nations said that despite the Taliban’s announcement in 2021 banning forced marriage, some Taliban officials were allegedly involved in committing or facilitating such practices.
The report also states that women protesters in Afghanistan were arbitrarily detained and subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence while in detention.
The Security Council noted that these abuses occurred in circumstances where survivors had very limited access to legal, medical, and support services.
According to the report, more than 400 health facilities across Afghanistan had closed by July 2025, while hundreds of centers providing services to survivors of gender-based violence also ceased operations.
The United Nations further highlighted restrictions on Afghan women working for UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, saying these measures have significantly hindered support for vulnerable women.
The report criticized the lack of effective accountability mechanisms in Afghanistan and noted that most complaints related to sexual violence continue to be reviewed by male officials.
In another section, the report stated that an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan was established in October 2025 to collect and preserve evidence related to international crimes and serious human rights violations against women and girls.
In his recommendations, the UN Secretary-General called on the Taliban to immediately end all forms of sexual violence, remove restrictions imposed on women and girls, and comply with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations.
The Taliban have not yet issued an official response to the report.
