To: Taliban de facto authorities 

Dear leaders of the Taliban de facto authorities, 

I worry about the people of Afghanistan as it has come to my attention that they are experiencing the most significant and rapid roll-back in enjoyment of their human rights ever since the Taliban has risen to power. I call on you, the leaders, to respect and guarantee the protection of human rights in Afghanistan by: 

• Immediately ending gross human rights violations taking place in Afghanistan, including reprisal killings and attacks on ethnic and religious minorities, women and girls, LGBTI+ people, human rights defenders, civil society members, judges, lawyers, former government officials, journalists, and others. 

• Granting women and girls their full spectrum of rights including access to education for girls of all ages by immediately re-opening all schools and universities, ensuring access to healthcare, and allowing women to return to work.  

• Guaranteeing Afghans’ rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. Abductions, arbitrary detentions, and beatings of journalists, peaceful protesters, including women protesters, must end. 

• Establishing effective and transparent investigation and accountability mechanisms that delivers justice for human rights violations and war crimes - including but not limited to enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, and extra judicial killings - through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.   

Yours sincerely,