NEW YORK: UN Women has warned that the Taliban are pushing Afghan women out of public life. Four years after Kabul fell in 2021, restrictions on women and girls have intensified.
The agency said the Taliban enforce strict mahram rules, ban secondary and higher education, and require full-body coverings in some regions.
Over 78 percent of Afghan women are now outside education, jobs, or training. These measures increase maternal deaths, child marriage, and gender-based violence.
Despite the challenges, Afghan women keep helping communities and advocating for their rights.
UNAMA reports show that the Taliban has issued nearly 100 edicts restricting women’s movement and participation in society. Not a single one has been reversed. The edicts affect healthcare, economic participation, and public expression.
Afghan women continue to show resilience. Some run grassroots initiatives, collect stories from rural areas, and support each other despite threats and limited resources.
UN Women says global action is needed to prevent these restrictions from becoming normalized.Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s representative in Afghanistan, said: “Silencing women in Afghanistan sends a dangerous message. Women’s rights everywhere become disposable.”
Related: Religious Leaders Ask Taliban To Open Girls’ Schools.