UN Continues Support for Afghan Women as Rights Groups Warn of New Legal Restrictions

UN Continues Support for Afghan Women as Rights Groups Warn of New Legal Restrictions
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The UN Women has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women and girls in Afghanistan despite ongoing instability and sweeping restrictions on their rights.

According to statements reported by local media, Susan Ferguson said the agency continues to operate in what she described as one of the most challenging environments globally for women’s rights. She noted that hundreds of thousands of Afghan women and girls are receiving assistance, adding that services will continue even under difficult conditions.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has raised concerns over a newly adopted penal code by the Taliban, warning it could further restrict women’s access to justice, equality, and independence.

The group called for the immediate repeal of the law, stating that the past four years have seen a significant rollback of women’s rights in Afghanistan, including in education, employment, and freedom of movement.

In a recent legal analysis, Amnesty said the so-called “criminal courts law,” reportedly approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, may institutionalize gender discrimination within the legal system. It warned that certain provisions could hinder the prosecution of domestic violence cases, reducing victims’ ability to seek justice.

The organization added that adopting such legislation could complicate engagement with the international community and worsen Afghanistan’s social and economic conditions.

Rights groups cautioned that continuing this trajectory risks deepening the country’s human rights crisis, with potentially long-term consequences for stability and development, even as humanitarian agencies strive to maintain support for vulnerable populations.