The European Union announced that it will launch the Afghanistan Gender Country Profile 2024 on June 10, coinciding with the Senior Officials Meeting on Afghanistan. This profile is the result of a collaboration between the EU and UN Women.
According to the EU, the profile will be unveiled by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA).
The report highlights a significant decline in the role of women in Afghanistan over the past ten months, particularly in domestic settings. The share of women reporting “good” or “full” influence in the household plummeted from 90 percent in January to 39 percent by November 2023.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, the regime has issued more than 50 decrees that directly restrict women’s freedoms. These decrees, the report states, have fostered a permissive environment for discrimination against women and girls, leading to increased violence and shifting social attitudes.
The report also emphasizes findings from UN Women, noting that access to employment and education is crucial for addressing a range of issues, including a mental health crisis in which 76 percent of women rate their mental health as “very bad” or “bad.” Education levels and economic empowerment significantly influence decision-making within households and communities.
The Gender Country Profile, according to the EU, not only examines the current decrees, policies, and practices around gender under Taliban rule but also offers recommendations for the international community on how to support women and girls in Afghanistan.
