Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the country has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls, deprived of many of their basic rights, the United Nations said Wednesday.
In a statement released on the International Women’s Day, the U.N. mission said that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost “singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.”
Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan after two decades of war.
They have banned girls’ education beyond sixth grade and women from public spaces such as parks and gyms. Women are also barred from working at national and international nongovernmental organizations and ordered to cover themselves from head to toe.
“Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights,” said Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and head of the mission to Afghanistan.
“It has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere,” she added.
The restrictions, especially the bans on education and NGO work, have drawn fierce international condemnation. But the Taliban have shown no signs of backing down, claiming the bans are temporary suspensions in place allegedly because women were not wearing the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, correctly and because gender segregation rules were not being followed.
As for the ban on university education, the Taliban government has said that some of the subjects being taught were not in line with Afghan and Islamic values.
Afghan women gather to protest for their right to education, at a house in Mazar-i-Sharif on Tuesday. Atif Aryan / AFP – Getty Images“Confining half of the country’s population to their homes in one of the world’s largest humanitarian and economic crises is a colossal act of national self-harm,” Otunbayeva also said.
“It will condemn not only women and girls, but all Afghans, to poverty and aid-dependency for generations to come,” she said. “It will further isolate Afghanistan from its own citizens and from the rest of the world.”
At a carpet factory in Kabul, women who were former government employees, high school or university students now spend their days weaving carpets.
“We all live like prisoners, we feel that we are caught in a cage,” said Hafiza, 22, who goes only by her first name and who used to be a first-year law student before the Taliban banned women from attending classes at her university. “The worst situation is when your dreams are shattered, and you are punished for being a woman.”
The U.N. mission to Afghanistan also said it has recorded an almost constant stream of discriminatory edicts and measures against women since the Taliban takeover — women’s right to travel or work outside the confines of their home and access to spaces is largely restricted, and they have also been excluded from all levels of public decision-making.
“The implications of the harm the Taliban are inflicting on their own citizens goes beyond women and girls,” said Alison Davidian, the special representative for U.N. Women in Afghanistan.
No officials from the Taliban-led government was immediately available for comment.
At the carpet factory, 18-years-old Shahida, who also uses only one name, said she was in 10th grade at one of Kabul high schools when her education was cut short.
“We just demand from the (Taliban) government to reopen schools and educational centers for us and give us our rights,” she said.
Ahead of the International Women’s Day, about 200 Afghan female small business owners put together an exhibition of their products in Kabul. Most complained of losing business since the Taliban takeover.
“I don’t expect Taliban to respect women’s rights,” said one of them, Tamkin Rahimi. “Women here cannot practice (their) rights and celebrate Women’s Day, because we cannot go to school, university or go to work, so I think we don’t have any day to celebrate.”
The U.N. Security Council was to meet later Wednesday with Otunbayeva and women representatives from Afghan civil society groups.
According to the statement, 11.6 million Afghan women and girls are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the Taliban are further undermining the international aid effort through their ban on women working for NGOs.
The United Nations has recently released a report stating that Afghanistan is the world’s most oppressive nation for women. The report states that the situation in Afghanistan has remained “exceptionally” poor in comparison to other countries.
Women and girls in Afghanistan are subject to discrimination in almost every aspect of life, including education and employment. In addition, violence against women and girls in Afghanistan is “well above the global average” and is often used as a means to control the population and prevent women from accessing their basic rights.
The report, which was released last month by the United Nations’ development program, reveals that more than two-thirds of Afghan women have experienced sexual, physical, or psychological violence in their lifetime. The report also found that legal restrictions, pressure from family members, fear of stigma, and economic constraints prevent women from accessing legal and medical services, making it difficult for them to get the justice they deserve.
Moreover, the report found that access to education and healthcare in Afghanistan is particularly low for women and girls. This is due to the lack of access to resources, coupled with traditional cultural views which place restrictions on women’s mobility.
The report’s authors urge governments and international organizations to take action in order to improve the situation for Afghan women and girls. They suggest strengthening protection mechanisms and access to justice, increasing resources for health and education services, eliminating legal and cultural barriers, and engaging with grassroots organizations to improve access to services.
The report’s findings come as a stark reminder that a great deal of work still needs to be done to ensure that Afghan women and girls are able to live with dignity and respect. Hope lies in the commitment of governments and international organizations to improve the lives of Afghan women and girls by providing better access to resources and fostering an atmosphere of support and equality.
