Background

In August 2024 the Taliban announced the enactment of the "Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" which further institutionalizes a system of gender-based discrimination, persecution, and oppression in Afghanistan. The law incorporates and builds on an extensive series of edicts, decrees, and policies announced by the de facto authorities since they took power in August 2021 which systematically deprive women and girls of their rights, while also imposing severe restrictions on the enjoyment of human rights by Afghans of all genders, as well as on members of ethnic and religious minorities and persons from marginalized groups.

At its 57^th session in September-October 2024, the UN Human Rights Council requested the Special Rapporteur to “present a report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-eighth session, including a separate study on the so-called ‘Law on propagation of virtue and prevention of vice’.” Both the study and report will therefore be presented to the Council in February-March 2025.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

Types of input sought

The Special Rapporteur invites States, UN bodies, international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, academics, experts, and other relevant stakeholders to share information, documents, statements, data, and analysis that address any of the following topics:

1. Key human rights concerns relating to the Law, in particular pertaining to non-compliance with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations and commitments.
2. Examples of the implementation of the Law in practice since August 2024 – including detailed information about the form of implementation, including the date, location, and individual(s) or entity(ies) responsible for implementation.
3. Examples of enforcement of the Law since August 2024 that contravenes human rights standards such as through threats or the use of violence – including detailed information about the incident(s), including the date, location, and alleged enforcer(s) or perpetrator(s).
4. Information about the impact(s) of the Law on specific at risk and/or vulnerable groups – including but not limited to women, girls, men, boys, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other gender diverse persons, members of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and members of marginalized groups or communities.
5. Information about the impact(s) of the Law on the work or operations of organizations – including but not limited to businesses, non-governmental organizations, journalists, humanitarian organizations, and service providers, including health workers, legal and justice workers, and educators.
6. Information about the economic impact(s) of the Law on business, income, and the economy, particularly on women-run businesses, employers of women, and women entrepreneurs.
7. Information about the impact(s) of the Law on access to services, including but not limited to health and medical services, legal assistance, dispute resolution mechanisms, GBV services, and humanitarian assistance.
8. Information about the impact(s) of the Law on cultural and religious traditions within Afghanistan, in particular those practised by minority or marginalized communities.
9. Other human rights-related concerns about the Law, its provisions, and impacts.

Submitting organizations and individuals should focus on describing their own research and analysis rather than summarizing the findings of others. Detailed descriptions of research methodology and sources of information, including links where relevant, will be greatly appreciated.

Submissions can be made in Dari, Pashto, or English.

Treatment of submissions

The Special Rapporteur may cite the names of organizations or individuals that have provided information in response to this call, however, submitting organizations or individuals may request confidentiality. Submissions lacking explicit consent will be treated as confidential.  

How inputs will be used?