The year 2024 marked a period of increasing restrictions for women and girls in Afghanistan, as the Taliban imposed new barriers to education, employment, and personal freedoms.
Continuing the closure of schools and universities for girls, the Taliban further banned women from attending medical institutes. In late December, a directive from the Taliban leadership reinforced a complete prohibition on women working in domestic and international organizations. Around the same time, a new order targeted women’s privacy in their own homes, mandating that windows in residential buildings be modified or blocked to prevent women from being seen.
The Taliban implemented several new measures throughout the year, further curtailing women’s rights:
Reduced salaries: In July 2024, the monthly wages for women employed in government positions were reduced to 5,000 Afghanis.
New morality law: In August 2024, a stricter “Promotion of Virtue” law was enacted.
Ban on medical studies: On December 4, 2024, the Taliban ordered the closure of medical institutes to female students.
Work prohibition: On December 26, 2024, the Taliban reaffirmed their ban on women working with domestic and foreign organizations.
Window restrictions: In late December, a new decree required the modification or blocking of windows in residential buildings overlooking areas where women typically work or spend time, such as courtyards or kitchens.
Life under restriction
Laila (a pseudonym), one of thousands of women affected by these policies, shared her struggles. As the sole breadwinner for a seven-member family, including an ailing father, Leila’s hardships have intensified under the Taliban’s edicts.
“I was recently accepted by an organization,” she said, “but the ban came down. My parents are sick, and all financial responsibilities fall on me. No matter how hard I try, it feels futile because I am a woman. With all these orders, we are being destroyed by fear of the future and starvation. Please have mercy and stop depriving women of everything.”
Rabia, another woman from Farah Province, expressed her frustration: “The Taliban’s sole focus seems to be restricting women. Instead of improving our lives as Afghan citizens, they have stripped us of everything. We are exhausted from this unplanned, oppressive existence.”
The Swedish-based NGO Action Against Persecution (AKPS) reported that between July and December 2024, the Taliban issued 16 decrees directly affecting various aspects of life, with women bearing the brunt of these measures.
The United Nations Security Council, Amnesty International, and other global organizations have described the Taliban’s actions against women as crimes against humanity. Some countries have called for the Taliban to be referred to the International Criminal Court for prosecution.
