United Nations claims the Taliban is already carrying out civilian executions, recruiting child soldiers, and repressing women

G7 leaders are due to gather later today to discuss the crisis and the breakdown of the Afghan government in the wake of the US troop withdrawal. 

The UN has raised an alarm that the Taliban are already carrying out severe rights abuses in Afghanistan including 'summary executions of civilians, the recruitment of child soldiers and restrictions on the rights of women and girls. 

Following the Taliban's takeover, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged the Human Rights Council to take "strong and vigorous measures" to prevent the country from reverting to the ruthless rule it imposed when it was last in power.

G7 leaders are due to gather later today to discuss the crisis and the breakdown of the Afghan government in the wake of the US troop withdrawal. 

On Tuesday, August 24, Bachelet called for strong action to investigate reports of rights abuses, as she sought to ensure that international attention on the country doesn't wane.

'At this critical moment, the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights,' she said. 

'I urge this council to take bold and vigorous action, commensurate with the gravity of this crisis, by establishing a dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan.'

Bachelet cited reports of 'summary executions of civilians and former security forces who were no longer fighting, the recruitment of child soldiers, and restrictions on the rights of women to move around freely and of girls to go to school. She cited repression of peaceful protests and expressions of dissent.

Bachelet didn't say what timeframe she was referring to or where she got her information.

According to data obtained by a Norway-based private intelligence organization that supplies information to the UN, the Taliban have rounded up Afghans on a blacklist of persons they believe served in significant capacities with the previous Afghan administration or with US-led forces.