UN report underscores devastating effects of Taliban policies on Afghan women
Three United Nations entities, namely the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Women division, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), have published a report highlighting the repercussions of Taliban policies on women in Afghanistan. The report is based on consultations with 888 women from various regions of the country.
One of the key findings of the report is the significant difficulty women face in accessing legal mechanisms. According to the report, 97% of women are unable to access formal legal avenues for dispute resolution, while 93% cannot reach informal mechanisms. Only 3% of women have been able to access formal systems, and 7% to informal ones.
More than 80% of women reported that they had not interacted with local Taliban officials in the past three months, with only 16% having any form of engagement. Women noted that Taliban officials avoid meeting with them due to fears of repercussions.
The report confirms that Afghan women are excluded from influencing decision-making processes in their lives. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, women have been barred from participating in society and decision-making processes, including those related to legislation.
Sixty-five percent of women indicated that they “do not feel safe at all” when going out alone, while 40% described their mental health as “extremely poor” and 28% as “poor.” Women pointed to statements by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada as a primary cause for increased feelings of frustration and despair.
Over two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population suffers from extreme poverty, with 17 million people living in severe vulnerability. Instances of suicide among girls deprived of education have risen, and Taliban policies have devastated women’s mental health and exacerbated discrimination within society.
The report underscores the devastating effects of Taliban policies on Afghan women and calls on the international community to intervene to assist women and Afghan society as a whole.
