Afghanistan: Five years of Taliban rule and women's rights crisis

Taliban rule women's rights gender apartheid humanitarian crisis Afghanistan

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan is marking five years of power, characterized by a severe humanitarian crisis and the systematic dismantling of women's rights. UN Women has described the situation as the world's most severe women's rights crisis, noting that the Taliban has issued hundreds of decrees restricting the lives of women and girls.

Key restrictions include barring girls from secondary and higher education, which UNESCO reports has affected approximately 2.4 million girls. Women are also prohibited from many public activities, including attending gyms, parks, and sports events, and are often required to be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling. These measures have led to significant social isolation, with many women leaving their homes only once or twice a month.

Financial instability further threatens local support systems. More than half of 74 women's organizations surveyed are at risk of closing within the next year due to funding shortages. The UN's $1.7 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan remains only 25 percent funded. This lack of resources coincides with widespread malnutrition and economic hardship across the country.

Entities

Afghanistan · Human Rights Watch · Kabul · Lowy Institute · Susan Ferguson · Taliban · UN Women · UNESCO · UNICEF · United Nations · World Bank

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Nearly half of the Afghan population is dependent on humanitarian aid. mantovauno.it · gazeta.mk
[● 4 SOURCES] Roughly 2.4 million girls have been denied secondary education since the Taliban return to power in 2021. www.shqipmedia.com · otrasvoceseneducacion.org · www.mentinfuga.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] A April 2025 World Bank report identified poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition as urgent challenges in Afghanistan. gazeta.mk
[● 5 SOURCES] Seven out of ten Afghan women describe their mental well-being as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’. www.shqipmedia.com · www.eldia.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban regime as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. mantovauno.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Employment rates show only 7% of women are employed compared to 84% of men. www.shqipmedia.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Approximately 50% of Afghan women leave their homes only once or twice per month. www.shqipmedia.com · www.eldia.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Taliban authorities have issued over 100 decrees restricting the rights of women and girls. www.shqipmedia.com · www.eldia.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · efeminista.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Resai's business employs eight regular employees. www.kurierverlag.de
[● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 40 percent of the population could face acute food insecurity during winter months. www.kurierverlag.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. www.kurierverlag.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Rukia Resai founded a soap manufacturing business in Herat four years ago. www.kurierverlag.de