Geneva, 07, September, 2026.- Five years after the Taliban seized power, despite some improved security, forceful implementation of highly restrictive policies are reshaping every aspect of life in Afghanistan, with devastating consequences for children and young people – a majority of the Afghan population, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said today.
In a new report to the UN Human Rights Council, Bennett said that the Taliban’s institutionalised system of discrimination, repression and ideological control is depriving children of their fundamental rights to inclusive and quality education, to express themselves, and to participate meaningfully in social and public life.
“Afghanistan’s children are growing up in an environment where discrimination, especially against girls and women, is being normalised, they are denied the right to learn and their opportunities for the future are dramatically shrinking,” Bennett said.
He expressed particular concern not only about the continued denial of education beyond the sixth grade to girls, but also the increasing exposure of children and young people to gender-based violence, forced and child marriage, child labour, indoctrination and pressure to conform to restrictive ideological expectations.
“These policies are not only violating children’s rights today – they are undermining their ability to determine their own futures,” the Special Rapporteur said. “For girls in particular, the systematic denial of education is closing doors that may never reopen, with serious consequences for their mental health and the country’s development as a whole.”
The report observes that children are experiencing these harms against the backdrop of decades of conflict, poverty and unmet humanitarian needs.
By dismantling the legal framework and weakening and repurposing institutions that previously protected and promoted children’s rights, the Taliban has exposed Afghan children to violence, abuse and exploitation, the expert said.
Children living in poverty, in remote areas, living with disabilities, members of marginalised religious or ethnic communities, those who have been displaced or returned from foreign countries, are most affected.
“The Taliban’s restrictions on media, culture and freedom of expression are limiting the diversity of ideas and experiences available to children and young people,” Bennett said.
“Children need space to learn, to think freely, to express themselves and imagine a different future,” the expert said. “Instead, many are growing up in fear, isolation and uncertainty.”
“This is contributing to a growing sense of despair,” he said. “Combined with narrow forms of education or none at all, this risks creating future security concerns and a migration crisis.”
“But Afghan children must not be seen only as victims. Despite extraordinary pressure, many continue to show resilience, creativity and determination. They support their families and communities and continue to pursue alternative learning pathways,” Bennett said. “Investing in their capacities, creating opportunities for them to learn and hearing their voices are essential to building a more just, inclusive and peaceful Afghanistan.”
The Special Rapporteur urged the Taliban to end discriminatory policies and restore full access to comprehensive education for girls, strengthen child protection and justice systems, prevent child and forced marriage and child labour, prohibit corporal punishment and restore inclusive healthcare and social protection for children with disabilities.
States must fully fund the humanitarian response, including alternative education pathways for girls, expand safe pathways for Afghans at risk, and support mine action programmes, youth-led initiatives and accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan.
“Five years of restrictive rule and socio-economic collapse have fundamentally altered the conditions in which Afghanistan’s children are growing up,” Bennett said. “The international community must act now to protect their rights and ensure that present and future generations are not deprived of the opportunity to shape Afghanistan’s future.”