UN Report Warns Taliban Restrictions on Women Deepen Afghanistan’s Economic and Health Crises

UN Report Warns Taliban Restrictions on Women Deepen Afghanistan’s Economic and Health Crises
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A new report by the United Nations’ Women’s Division has warned of the dire consequences of ongoing restrictions on women’s education and employment in Afghanistan, describing the policies as not only a blow to individual freedoms but also a catalyst for worsening economic and health conditions nationwide.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Afghan girls have been barred from secondary and higher education, with universities closing their doors to women—including in critical healthcare fields such as nursing and midwifery.

The UN estimates that nearly 3 million girls are currently out of school, putting the future of an entire generation at risk. While the Taliban cite “cultural and traditional values” to justify these restrictions, the report reveals that 92% of Afghans—both men and women, across urban and rural areas—support girls’ education.

The economic toll of excluding women from the workforce could exceed $920 million between 2024 and 2026, according to UN projections. The ban has had devastating effects on families, especially those headed by widows who lost spouses during decades of conflict. Many of these households now struggle to meet basic needs after women were barred from working in government agencies, NGOs, and even small-scale businesses.

On the health front, the UN expressed serious concern over the long-term impact of excluding women from medical education. Afghanistan already faces a shortage of female healthcare workers, and the ban further endangers millions of women who cannot seek medical care from male providers due to cultural norms.

Maternal mortality rates are expected to rise by over 50% by 2026, while child marriage could increase by 25%, and early pregnancies among teenage girls may rise by 45%. The report also included disturbing testimonies, such as one from a Taliban official in Ghor province, who told protesting women: “It is better for you to die than to leave your homes to work.”

UN Women official Sofia Kalttorp described the situation as “a dismantling of women’s potential,” and called on the international community to take meaningful action. She emphasized that Afghan women, despite extreme repression, are showing resilience and resistance in the face of systemic discrimination.