U.N. Security Council urges Taliban to lift restrictions on women, girls

FILE PHOTO: Female presenters for Tolo News, Sonia Niazi and Khatereh Ahmadi, while covering their face, work in a newsroom at Tolo TV station in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Ali Khara

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to "swiftly reverse" policies and practices that are restricting the human rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls.

The 15-member council agreed to the Norway-drafted statement nearly two weeks after it discussed the situation behind closed-doors. It expressed "deep concern regarding the increasing erosion of respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban."