Women in Afghanistan have not ceased their struggle for rights despite the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, according to a recent report by U.N. Women. The report underscores the resilience of Afghan women, particularly female journalists, in the face of increasingly oppressive conditions.
U.N. Women highlighted that the Taliban’s stringent policies have disproportionately impacted women’s employment, leading to a sharp decline in their participation in the workforce compared to men. The report, released three years after the Taliban’s return to power, emphasized the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting Afghan women and girls in their pursuit of freedom and rights.
The report includes the testimony of Lina, a 26-year-old journalist from Farah, who described her fear and uncertainty after the Taliban’s takeover, which nearly led her to abandon her career. Her story is emblematic of the broader challenges faced by women in Afghanistan, where decades of progress on gender equality have been undone by a web of more than 70 edicts and directives issued by the Taliban. These measures have severely restricted the rights of women and girls in nearly every aspect of their lives.
The report also highlights the psychological toll of these restrictions. In a 2023 survey, 8 percent of respondents said they knew at least one woman or girl who had attempted suicide since August 2021. Additionally, 18 percent of women surveyed between August and October 2023 reported not having met with women outside their immediate family in the previous three months, underscoring the increasing social isolation imposed on Afghan women.
U.N. Women called for continued global support for Afghan women, stating that their fight for rights must not be abandoned.
