Five years after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, women across the country report their lives have become unrecognisable, facing a dramatic rollback of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Women speak of widespread public floggings, the loss of employment opportunities, and critical barriers to healthcare that are endangering lives. The United Nations has described Afghanistan as the world's worst country for women's rights.
The Taliban retook power on 15 August 2021, following the withdrawal of international forces. That day marked the beginning of a rapid and systematic imposition of strict Islamic law, which has disproportionately affected women and girls.
Sweeping Restrictions on Daily Life
Since the takeover, Afghan women have faced sweeping restrictions on their education, work, movement, and public life. Girls are largely barred from secondary education, and women are increasingly prevented from attending universities.
Access to many professions has been curtailed or eliminated, pushing countless women out of the workforce. Strict dress codes are enforced, and women are often required to have a male guardian, or 'mahram', to travel beyond a certain distance.
Falling Aid and Taliban Challenges
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, international aid funding for Afghanistan is reportedly falling. The United Nations has urged donor countries not to abandon crucial programmes that support Afghan women, warning that many aid organisations could be forced to cease operations.
Internally, the Taliban government is grappling with challenges to its authority. Armed factions are reportedly challenging the group's rule, undermining the central claim of providing security, which was a key tenet of their return to power.
The international community continues to monitor the deteriorating human rights situation, particularly for women, but direct influence on the Taliban's policies remains limited, leaving Afghan women facing an uncertain future.
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