KABUL: Citing continued violations and harsh social restrictions in its latest quarterly report, the United Nations (UN) has expressed concerns over the alarming state of women’s rights in Afghanistan Taliban regime.
According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report covering July to September 2024, the Taliban regime has imposed severe curbs on women’s mobility, education, and employment. The ban imposed last year on women working with UN offices also remains in field.
UNAMA has highlighted that women and girls have been entirely barred from formal education since 2022. It stated that several schools and seminaries in various provinces have been shut down for teaching modern subjects. In areas such as Badakhshan, Paktika, and parts of Kabul, even basic educational centers for girls have been closed, lamented UNAMA.
The report disclosed that in 2024, the Taliban extended the prohibition to medical and dentistry education for women, which still stands. In several provinces, female patients may consult male doctors only if accompanied by a male guardian.
UNAMA documented 456 arbitrary arrests and 44 cases of mistreatment and violence against women over minor disciplinary or rule-related accusations.
The United Nations urged the global community to urgently address the deteriorating situation and adopt concrete measures to lift restrictions and protect human rights.
It warned that without decisive international action, Afghan women risk permanent exclusion from education, healthcare, and social participation.
