By Sandra Chaker | Staff Writer
The status of women in Afghanistan has suffered an unprecedented and devastating decline since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Over the past two decades, Afghan women had made significant advancements in education, employment, and public involvement. However, with the comeback of the Taliban regime, the rights they had toiled for have been systematically abolished, leaving women in a state of almost total exclusion from public life and attention. Today, Afghan women face some of the most extreme oppression in the world.
One of the most awful setbacks for Afghan women has been the complete prohibition of their right to education. Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls are officially banned from attending secondary school and university. Since the Taliban’s takeover, approximately 1.4 million girls have been denied access to formal education, effectively erasing their prospects for a future beyond domestic confinement. The closure of schools not only affects individual students but also undermines the nation’s economic and social development. Research has shown that nations with higher female literacy rates experience lower poverty levels, improved public health, and stronger economies. By systematically excluding women from education, Afghanistan is not only violating fundamental human rights but also sentencing itself to a future of no growth.
One cannot help but notice that the economic consequences of these policies are extremely serious. Women’s involvement in the workforce has been nearly obliterated. The Taliban has banned women from working in most sectors, including government positions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As a result, female labor force participation has dropped to about 4.8%, one of the lowest rates in the world. Afghanistan was already facing an economic crisis, and the forced removal of women from the workforce has only worsened poverty and social instability. The international community has provided aid, but with the Taliban’s strict control and systematic corruption, much of this assistance fails to reach those in need.
Beyond employment and education, Afghan women face severe restrictions on their personal freedoms. Strict dress codes have been enforced, obliging women to wear full-body coverings, including the burqa, and many areas impose rules that prevent women from traveling without a male guardian. These restrictions severely limit their ability to access healthcare, work, or engage in social activities. Public spaces such as parks, gyms, and beauty salons have been closed to women, erasing them from society. Shockingly, in 2023, news surfaced that women were even being denied the right to visit graveyards, further underscoring their systematic exclusion from all aspects of public life. This level of repression is aimed at making women invisible, reducing them to mere dependents under the absolute control of male members.
The suppression of women’s voices, aspirations, and potential has created a profound sense of hopelessness. Mental health services are limited, and with the Taliban’s restrictions on female healthcare workers, many women lack access to critical medical and psychological support. The consequences of this repression are far-reaching, affecting not only individual lives but also future generations who will grow up in a society where women are treated as second-class citizens. Despite these grim realities, Afghan women continue to resist in both loud and subtle ways. Protests have erupted in major cities, with women courageously demanding their rights despite the severe risks involved, including imprisonment and violence. These demonstrations are often met with force, with many women being beaten, detained, or even disappearing, yet the protests persist, marking an unwavering call for justice. Also, many have taken to online activism, using social media platforms to document their struggles and raise global awareness. Hashtags like #LetAfghanGirlsLearn have trended internationally, shedding light on the crisis and fostering solidarity. Some underground schools continue to operate in secret, providing education to girls in defiance of the Taliban’s restrictions. Teachers and professors are risking everything to provide girls with lessons in core subjects. Adding to that, women-led organizations, though heavily suppressed, persist in their efforts to provide aid, vocational training, and mental health resources. The resilience of Afghan women in the face of such overwhelming adversity is a testament to their strength and determination.
The international response to this crisis has been largely dissatisfying and insufficient. While there has been widespread condemnation of the Taliban’s treatment of women, concrete action has been limited. Economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and conditional aid have been proposed, but these measures have done little to change the regime’s policies. Some governments and organizations have attempted to support Afghan women through financial aid and advocacy, but much of this assistance is obstructed by the Taliban’s tight control. There is a growing need for more direct interventions such as safe pathways for Afghan women to seek refuge in other countries and increased support for education and employment initiatives.
The current state of women’s rights in Afghanistan is a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent global attention. The systematic oppression of half the population is not only a gross violation of human rights but also a barrier to Afghanistan’s progress and stability. However, Afghan women
have demonstrated that they will not be silenced. Their courage, resilience, and determination continue to shine through the darkness, offering a glimmer of hope for a future where they can reclaim their rightful place in society. The world must not turn its back on them. Instead, it must amplify their voices, support their struggles, and push for actual change. Without sustained international pressure and support, the sad state of Afghan women will only worsen, and an entire generation of potential will be lost to oppression and injustice.
References:
Amiri,W. (2023),“Women, Protest and Power- Confronting the Taliban”, available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2023/03/women-protest-and-power-confronting-the-taliban/
Human’s Right Watch (2023), “Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Afghanistan”, available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/11/submission-universal-periodic-review-afghanistan
Russel, C. (2024), “1,000 days of education – equivalent to three billion learning hours – lost for Afghan girls”, available at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/1000-days-education-equivalent-three-billion-learning-hours-lost-afghan-girls
UNDP (2023), “Afghanistan Socio-Economic Outlook”, available at: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-05/SEO%202023_full%20report.pdf