Reports Document Sexual Violence by Taliban in Afghan Detention Centers

The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict draws attention to conditions in Afghanistan. Multiple reports have outlined specific incidents involving detainees held by Taliban forces.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, explicitly confirmed the occurrence of rape and sexual violence carried out by Taliban officials on the eighth of Jawza in 1405, which aligns with the year 2026. This confirmation comes amid broader documentation efforts.

In its records, UNAMA identified at least twenty-one cases of sexual violence in Afghanistan during 2025. These cases included gang rapes and affected a total of fifteen women along with six girls.

Separately, an investigative effort involving interviews with ten women who had been detained revealed that eight of them experienced rape during their time in custody. The other two individuals reported being subjected to sexual harassment as well as the forced filming of them while naked.

The United States State Department provided further details in its reporting. It indicated that sixteen of ninety female prisoners located in the provinces of Jowzjan, Faryab, and Samangan had become pregnant as a result of rape by Taliban members. Additionally, the report stated that at least four women in Samangan were executed after undergoing repeated rapes.

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has also verified that sexual violence occurring in detention centers has affected both women and men. With limited options for independent oversight and accountability, most victims remain unable to pursue justice through formal channels.