The United Nations reported on Wednesday that since the Taliban took control of the country, Afghanistan has become the most oppressive nation on earth for women and girls, depriving them of many of their basic rights.
In a statement released on the International Women’s Day, the UN mission said that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost “singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.”
Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in August 2021 as US and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan after two decades of war.
They have banned women in public places like gyms and parks as well as girls' education past the sixth grade. Moreover, women are prohibited from working for both domestic and foreign nongovernmental groups and are required to cover their entire bodies.
The limitations, particularly the prohibitions on NGO and educational activities, have garnered vehement worldwide criticism. Although they claim the restrictions are temporary suspensions put in place because women were not properly donning the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, and because gender segregation laws were not being respected, the Taliban have shown no signs of giving up.
The UN mission in Afghanistan also noted that since the Taliban's takeover, there has been an almost constant stream of laws and policies that discriminate against women. Women's access to places, freedom to travel outside the home, and employment opportunities are all severely constrained. They are also excluded from all levels of public decision-making.
According to the statement, 11.6 million Afghan women and girls are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the Taliban are further undermining the international aid effort through their ban on women working for NGOs.
In a statement released on the International Women’s Day, the UN mission said that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost “singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.”
Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in August 2021 as US and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan after two decades of war.
They have banned women in public places like gyms and parks as well as girls' education past the sixth grade. Moreover, women are prohibited from working for both domestic and foreign nongovernmental groups and are required to cover their entire bodies.
The limitations, particularly the prohibitions on NGO and educational activities, have garnered vehement worldwide criticism. Although they claim the restrictions are temporary suspensions put in place because women were not properly donning the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, and because gender segregation laws were not being respected, the Taliban have shown no signs of giving up.
The UN mission in Afghanistan also noted that since the Taliban's takeover, there has been an almost constant stream of laws and policies that discriminate against women. Women's access to places, freedom to travel outside the home, and employment opportunities are all severely constrained. They are also excluded from all levels of public decision-making.
According to the statement, 11.6 million Afghan women and girls are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the Taliban are further undermining the international aid effort through their ban on women working for NGOs.
