On situation of women and girls in Afghanistan following the Taliban's adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

B100246/2026

European Parliament resolution on situation of women and girls in Afghanistan following the Taliban's adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts

(2026/2737(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the adoption by the Afghan de facto authorities, of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts, represents a dangerous escalation in the institutionalisation of repression and discrimination;

whereas the Code institutionalizes torture and other ill-treatment, allows the death penalty for a wide range of offences, entrenches discrimination based on gender, religion, belief, ethnicity and social status, and undermines freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief;

whereas the Code further restricts the movement, autonomy, education and participation in public life of women and girls, while normalising gender-based violence ;

whereas since 2021 the Taliban have systematically undermined women’s rights including by barring women from work, education, and public life, normalizing gender-based violence and dismantling the support system for victims of violence;

whereas such provisions reinforce a system of gender apartheid;

whereas the Code also criminalises same-sex relations exposing LGBTQI+ persons to arbitrary detention, torture and execution; whereas people returning to Afghanistan remain at heightened risk of arbitrary detention, torture and violence under this legal framework permitting punishment based on confession, testimony or ideological suspicion;

whereas Afghanistan is currently gripped by three converging crises: escalating hostilities along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border triggering displacement, ripple effects of the Middle East crisis, and an unprecedented hunger and malnutrition emergency;

Condemns the Taliban´s system of gender apartheid, and urges the repeal of all discriminatory measures which institutionalise the exclusion of women and girls from public, economic and civic life;

Highlights that Taliban control continues to represent an extremely dangerous environment for broad parts of the population; urges the immediately end of widespread and systematic human rights violations against the Afghan people, and of all discriminatory practices based on religion, gender, social status, race and ethnicity;

Denounces the insufficient international response to the Taliban’s system of gender apartheid and rejects any normalisation of diplomatic relations with the regime;

Strongly condemns the announced EU talks with Taliban representatives on the return of Afghan citizens; demands to immediately halt all deportations and any negotiations on returns, as Afghanistan cannot be considered a safe country; urges EU Member States to establish safe and legal pathways, including through increased resettlement quotas, humanitarian visas and easier family reunification procedures, particularly for women and girls;

Calls to ensure that no policy decisions contribute to legitimizing a regime that systematically violates the rights of women, girls and ethnic minorities;

Calls on the EU and its member states to recognize the crime of gender apartheid under international law, including in the crimes against humanity convention being currently negotiated;

Urges to increase support and humanitarian aid for Afghan organisations defending women and girls´ rights and combating famine in Afghanistan; calls to ensure adequate resources for the UN independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the de facto authorities of Afghanistan.