Published on: 2026-08-13
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
August 12, 2026 Women
Five years after the Taliban came to power in August 2021, half of Afghanistan’s population is still systematically deprived of basic rights. According to new data from the UN Women organization, more than 50 percent of surveyed women in the country leave their homes only once or twice a month due to strict restrictions.
Since 2021, the de facto authorities have issued more than 100 decrees targeting women and girls. As noted by the UN Women entity, over the past year the exclusion of Afghan women from education, the labor market, public life, the judicial system, and healthcare has become even more extensive.
The UN agency calls on the international community not to forget and not to ignore this unprecedented crisis.
Women and men are not equal before the law
De facto government decisions issued in 2026 further restricted women’s and girls’ access to justice and deprived them of equal legal status and protection.
Decree No. 12 abolishes the legal equality of men and women before the law, establishing the husband’s authority over the wife and limiting women’s ability to seek justice. In addition, violence in marriage is recognized as a crime only in cases of severe, visible bodily injuries.
Decree No. 18 significantly complicates the possibility for women to dissolve a marriage, while maintaining men’s unilateral right to divorce. It also effectively permits child marriages, further undermining the rights and safety of girls.
Health crisis
Forced isolation, often accompanied by an increased risk of violence, has a serious impact on women’s mental health. Lack of opportunities, limited access to physical activity, communication, and emotional support have led to a mental health crisis: women and girls increasingly report anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and despair.
According to a new report by UN Women, seven out of ten women today rate their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”.
Women are also finding it increasingly difficult to access medical care due to movement restrictions and a growing shortage of female doctors and nurses. At the same time, Afghanistan already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world: in 2024, it was 638 cases per 100,000 live births.
Women disappeared from public life
In 2025, restrictions on movement and access to public spaces became even stricter. According to the UN Women organization, more than half of Afghan women now leave their homes no more than twice a month.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed reported that they do not feel safe leaving the house without a male guardian (mahram), and more than half avoid public places altogether, including markets and medical facilities.
At the same time, the system of surveillance and control is expanding, involving thousands of people granted extensive powers to detain Afghan citizens. This creates an atmosphere of fear and vulnerability – especially for women and girls.
Ban on education
Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where a systematic ban on education for girls in secondary schools and women in universities is in place. These girls could become future teachers, doctors, nurses, and midwives.
According to recent estimates, if the current restrictions remain in place, Afghanistan could lose more than 25,000 female educators and healthcare workers by 2030.
Humanitarian crisis
In 2026, humanitarian aid is needed for more than 10.7 million Afghan women and girls. The healthcare situation is worsening across the country, hunger levels are increasing, and access to services continues to decline.
The ongoing return of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan places additional strain on local communities and the economy. Less than 20 percent of the women who have returned from these countries manage to earn any income. This contributes to increasing debt burdens and food shortages among the families of returnees.
At the same time, the restrictions de facto imposed by the authorities on women’s work in non-governmental organizations, along with the reduction of international funding, make it even more difficult to provide assistance to Afghan women who are especially in need of it.
Women were pushed out of the labor market
The participation of women in Afghanistan’s labor market remains extremely low. Only seven percent of women have jobs compared to 84 percent of men.
The ongoing exclusion of women is projected to result in cumulative economic losses of $920 million, or 5.8 percent of GDP, from 2024 to 2026.
Reduction of international funding
Almost three-quarters of women’s organizations in Afghanistan reported a reduction in funding in 2025. More than half of them expect that during the next year they will be forced to suspend operations or close completely.
It is women’s organizations that remain one of the last sources of support for Afghan women. They provide vital services, including protection from violence, medical care, and mental health support.
The UN Women structure continues to operate throughout Afghanistan, supporting the country’s women, helping them stay safe, providing their families with basic necessities, receiving emergency assistance, and participating in the development and implementation of humanitarian programs.
Afghan girls and women continue to be supported by UNESCO, which offers them alternative opportunities at the community level through literacy and skills development programs, as well as providing psychosocial assistance.
Although these initiatives cannot replace formal school education, they provide girls with the opportunity to continue studying while the existing restrictions remain in place. UNESCO and its partners strive to ensure not only learning opportunities but also safe spaces where students can gain confidence in themselves and their future. Currently, nearly 70,000 people receive support through such programs, with 73 percent of them being women and girls.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.