A young girl residing in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan offered the UN's top human rights body with a rare, anonymous account from within the country on Tuesday, depicting a life akin to 'slavery'. Filmed from behind against a white backdrop, only the silhouette of her head covering discernible, the girl, named Laila, reminisced about the time before the Taliban's resurgence nearly three years ago. She noted that prior to their rule, women and girls 'were free'. However, she lamented in the recording, as the body convened in Geneva to discuss the rights landscape in Afghanistan, 'Now we are not free. We are like slaves.' Laila described Afghan girls as 'birds with broken wings', still attempting to soar and seeking chances to reach great heights. The UN has characterized the situation as 'gender-based apartheid'. Last year, UN Women's executive director, Sima Bahous, cautioned that the circumstances were so severe that thoughts of suicide were pervasive among Afghan women. Laila recounted knowing several women who ended their lives after being seized and brutally assaulted by men under the pretext of improper hijab. She firmly believed it was merely an excuse, as girls were terrified and always dressed in black, donning a scarf and coat. Laila herself lived in constant fear of being apprehended by security forces, questioning if they would kill her. She expressed deep concern for her future, especially after being confined to home following the ban on girls attending secondary schools, where she assisted her mother and learned to cook. 'This is not my future,' she asserted, having lost numerous opportunities and grappling with depression and helplessness. Yet, she declared, 'I didn't give up, and I will never give up. I want to have a bright future. I want to become a leader. I want to become the voice of all Afghan girls.' Laila urgently appealed to the international community, imploring them to continue supporting Afghan girls and women, particularly in education and employment.