The Spectator magazine reported that the United Nations is investigating reports of sexual assault, gang rape, and sex slavery of women in Taliban prisons.

Previously, the United States’ State Department had stated that 16 out of 90 female prisoners in three northern provinces became pregnant after being raped by the Taliban members.

The Spectator reported that the United Nations is set to investigate sexual assaults on women in Taliban prisons.

Reports of sexual violence and assault by the Taliban on female prisoners in Afghanistan have raised concerns for the State Department and Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan.

Bennett said, "In general, I am aware of serious ill treatment of detainees, not only sexual but beatings, threats, extortion."

He also added that a team of UN staff is investigating the sexual assault and mistreatment of Afghan women by the Taliban.

The special rapporteur on human rights also said another concern is that some prisons may be operated outside the jurisdiction of the prison administration, managed by Taliban intelligence and personally by their commanders, limiting researchers' access to real information.

Additionally, some women who have experienced Taliban prisons have repeatedly spoken of mistreatment, torture, and sexual violence by the Taliban against women in prisons.

Previously, the George W. Bush Institute released a report on the situation in Afghanistan titled "Captured State," which mentioned issues such as the Taliban acquiring wives through force and manipulating families' desperation to settle debts or bolster support from loyalists.

This comes as the US State Department, in its annual report on the state of human rights in Afghanistan, said that at least 16 out of 90 female prisoners in Jowzjan, Faryab, and Samangan became pregnant after being raped by Taliban members.

State Department also noted that the Taliban have not implemented any mechanisms to support women who are victims of sexual assault.