Afghanistan's women 'almost confined to home' under Taliban rule: UN

Nearly five years after the Taliban regained control, Afghanistan faces a severe crisis in women's rights, according to UN Women. The organization reports that over half of Afghan women venture out of their homes only once or twice a month. This isolation is exacerbated by a pervasive sense of insecurity, with nearly three-quarters of women feeling unsafe when unaccompanied by a male guardian.

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half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month

The Taliban government has enacted over 100 decrees that institutionalize discrimination, deepening what UN Women calls the "world's worst crisis for women's rights." These restrictions have taken a significant toll on women's mental health, with 70% reporting their psychological well-being as "poor" or "very poor" due to social isolation, lost opportunities, and lack of support networks.

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nearly three-quarters of women say they feel unsafe when they go out without a male guardian

Recent legislation has further eroded legal protections for women. Some measures enacted this year have reportedly abolished legal equality between genders, strengthened male authority within marriage, and made divorce more difficult to obtain. Economically, women remain largely excluded, with only 7% employed compared to 84% of men.

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70% of Afghan women describe their mental health as 'poor' or 'very poor'

Afghanistan stands as the sole country globally that prohibits girls from secondary education and women from attending university. Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls have been denied their right to secondary education, according to UNESCO.

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Afghanistan is still the only country in the world that prohibits girls from receiving a secondary education and women from attending university