The Women and Children Research and Advocacy Network has criticized the Taliban’s legal policies in a new report, warning that recent penal regulations could institutionalize repression and discrimination in Afghanistan. The organization said during a virtual meeting on Thursday 26 March, attended by Richard Bennett, that the Taliban’s penal code for courts would lead to the institutionalization of repression and discrimination. Bennett said a review of the Taliban’s new penal law shows that instead of reforming policies, the group is expanding legal frameworks that, he said, reinforce repression and discrimination. He added that these laws reflect systematic efforts to consolidate legal restrictions against women and vulnerable groups. Experts from the network also warned that the continuation of such policies could lead to serious social and human rights consequences in Afghanistan.
