The imposition of ruthless restrictions, totaling around 118 decrees by the Taliban, has created a sense of despair and regret, burning the hearts of Afghan girls every day, with thousands of unfulfilled hopes and dreams. Thoughts like, “If schools were open, I would be in the first year of university now” and “If I was allowed to go to university, I would be a graduate by now.” With eyes full of tears and thousands of unanswered questions, Afghan girls face a world of unfinished dreams and aspirations.
In such a restrictive environment, in Kabul, a female cat has more freedom than a woman. A cat may sit on the stairs in front of a house and enjoy the sunlight. It might chase a squirrel in the park. Meanwhile, parks are closed to women and girls, and today, a squirrel in Afghanistan has more rights than a girl. A bird might sing in Kabul, but a girl or a woman has no right to sing in public spaces. This situation is deeply shocking and painful. This bitter comparison, which was raised in a famous speech by Meryl Streep at the United Nations, illustrates the horrifying and unjust reality in which women’s human rights in Afghanistan are severely violated.
These restrictions are a mere reflection of the harsh reality of Afghan women’s daily lives. The laws imposed by the Taliban have deprived women of even their most basic human rights. The restrictions are so severe that access to basic freedoms such as education, work, and freedom of movement has become an endless struggle for women. Their living conditions in Afghanistan not only create an atmosphere of anxiety and fear but also turn breathing into a constant challenge.
The purpose of this blog is to examine these restrictions and their impacts on the lives of Afghan women. I intend to show how the lives of Afghan women, under the control of these laws, have become a kind of endless prison, and why the world must pay serious attention to this situation. Reactions are not enough; the international community must take practical action against the violation of women’s rights. This issue should not be seen solely as an internal problem of Afghanistan, but as a global crisis.
Access to the most basic human rights, such as the right to education, the right to work, and the right to freedom of movement, are universal principles that must be respected in all societies. Any violation of these rights not only impacts individuals or specific groups but also affects all human societies. Therefore, it is essential for the international community to take practical steps to change this situation and support the rights of Afghan women.
When discussing Afghanistan’s regression, it is essential to examine the rights that were being recognized for women and girls under the last government before the Taliban (the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) and are now facing serious and systematic violations. (SIGAR), Afghan women, over the past 20 years
According to the report the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Afghan women, over the past 20 years) from the fall of the first Taliban regime to their return had made significant progress. Additionally, UNESCO’s report highlights that the right to education is at risk in Afghanistan. These reports have analyzed the past two decades, showing considerable advancements in various fields, from education to other areas. Women had achieved remarkable milestones and made significant progress in multiple sectors.
Before the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, the Afghan government was committed to expanding and recognizing the rights of women and girls. According to Article 43 of the 2004 Afghan Constitution, free and equal education was guaranteed by the state. Before the Taliban’s return, over 3.5 million girls attended schools, and women made up 33 % of the 450,000 university students in the country. The number of female teachers had risen to approximately 70,000, and by 2017, the literacy rate among girls had increased to 39 %.
Women pursued higher education in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, business administration, and social sciences. They had opportunities for scholarships to study abroad, furthering their academic and professional development.
In 2015, Afghanistan launched its first National Action Plan (NAP) to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which focused on women’s participation, protection, prevention, and recovery in peace and security efforts. The plan was executed in two phases (2015–2018 and 2019–2022) and aimed to enhance women’s roles in society.
As a result, women’s presence in government institutions, private organizations, and civil society increased significantly. Women comprised 30 % of civil service employees, and their participation in urban jobs and civil services reached 42 %. Additionally, 6,300 women served in the security and defense forces, and 300 female judges worked in the judiciary. Within the Attorney General’s Office, women held 24 % of the 7,105 positions, including roles as prosecutors.
The National Action Plan also emphasized expanding job opportunities for women across economic sectors, enforcing laws against human trafficking and violence against women, improving women’s access to justice, and eliminating the culture of impunity for gender-based crimes. Resource
Women had the right to vote, could run for elections. They held 27 % of seats in the Afghan Parliament, and 25 % of seats in provincial and district councils were reserved for them. Nearly half (9,708 members) of the Community Development Councils were women. Afghan women served as ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors, and high-ranking officials in government. Additionally, 28 % of employees in civil society organizations were women.
Legal protections ensured gender equality and the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law was in place to address gender-based violence.
Women actively participated in media, cinema, music, and sports. They could travel without a male guardian and were not subject to mandatory dress codes under strict governmental supervision. Afghan women competed in regional and international sports events, demonstrating their increasing social freedom.
Maternal mortality rates had significantly decreased—estimates suggest a reduction between 19 % and 50 %. About 61 % of pregnant women received skilled medical care, and the number of trained midwives exceeded 4,000. Additionally, 60 % of births were attended by qualified healthcare professionals.
These achievements were made possible not only through domestic efforts but also with substantial international support, funding, and programs. However, despite this progress, Afghan women continuously faced cultural barriers, economic challenges, and security threats. Still, they had managed to take significant steps toward equality, development, and empowerment.
After the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, and the Taliban’s return to power, the achievements of Afghan women in various fields, gained during the previous period, were gradually restricted or completely eliminated. Afghan women now face increasing restrictions, and with the enactment of the ”Moral Law” which includes all limitations imposed on women, their fundamental rights have been violated, and their participation in society and public life has significantly decreased.
Despite the Taliban’s initial promises to establish a more moderate government and respect women’s rights, the current reality indicates that the Taliban have merely adopted a superficial appearance of moderation while continuing to impose severe restrictions on women. This approach is not aimed at creating a truly moderate government but rather at perpetuating the same repressive and extremist policies that were implemented during the Taliban’s first rule in the 1990s.
With the capture of Kabul, the Taliban began imposing restrictions on women and girls, including an unofficial decree shutting down girls’ schools under the pretext of improving security and revising curricula. Since then, the Taliban have issued numerous orders limiting women’s social presence, threatening their fundamental rights. These restrictions include bans on leaving home, education, employment, travel, visiting recreational and sports centers, and the imposition of mandatory dress codes.
Taliban Restrictions on Women:
The decrees and orders of the Taliban, which, according to reports, reach a total of 118, and these restrictions, under the Moral Law, which was announced by Hibatullah Akhundzada in July 2024 and published in the official gazette in August 2024, have made all previous Taliban rulings official and enforceable. This law includes Article 13, which specifically focuses on women’s morality. It shows that women are systematically removed from society and that their fundamental rights are violated and restricted.
These restrictions, taken from reports of the United States Institute of Peace and other national sources in Afghanistan, have been applied gradually, extensively, and in a summarized manner in all different fields. They are:
Girls have been deprived of continuing their education beyond the sixth grade, meaning high school and university levels. The ban on mixed-gender schools has made separate schools for girls permissible. Male teachers are prohibited from teaching girls. Schools for blind girls have been closed. Girls are required to wear full coverings in schools; without compliance, they are expelled. Even young girls must observe full coverage. Girls have been banned from attending private educational courses. Non-governmental organizations that provided educational programs for girls have been shut down.
This decision has had devastating effects on girls who benefited from foreign support. According to UNICEF reports, these restrictions have negatively impacted 300,000 girls. Girls have been barred from entering universities. In some areas, restrictions have become even stricter, especially in Kandahar and Herat, where girls over the age of ten are not allowed to attend classes below the sixth grade.
The Taliban officially deprived women of the right to attend and teach at universities in Kabul and other public and private universities.
The Taliban ordered that all universities must separate classes based on gender. They also ordered that all female students must cover their faces in classrooms. The Taliban announced that universities should plan educational programs separately for women and men, with women attending university only three days a week and men attending on the other three days. The Taliban decided that women would not be allowed to choose fields such as agriculture, mining, civil engineering, veterinary medicine, and journalism at universities. They claimed that these fields were too difficult for women and that they would not succeed in these areas. In December 2022, the Taliban officially announced the ban on women’s entry into universities. The medical, nursing, and midwifery education fields were exempt from this ban. In January 2023, the Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban officially prohibited women from participating in university entrance exams. In March 2023, the Taliban ordered that graduation certificates not be issued for women. By the Taliban’s directive in December 2023, nursing and midwifery education for women in Kandahar was halted. The Taliban instructed medical universities that female students must wear full-body coverings (the chador) when entering universities. In December 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban ordered that all female administrative staff be dismissed from universities. In December 2024, the Taliban officially announced that women were banned from studying medical fields at universities and higher education institutions.
In 2021, the Taliban shut down the Afghan Independent Bar Association and limited women’s access to legal advice. In 2022, they dissolved the Independent Human Rights Commission, leaving women without support for defending their rights. A moral police unit was created to monitor women’s behavior.
In March 2023, the Taliban annulled thousands of divorce cases and canceled those not in line with Sharia law. They also closed safe houses for women, enforced stoning as punishment, and made decisions without women’s presence. Female judges reported the closure of courts for violence and family cases, which women primarily used.
Women are banned from working in NGOs and the United Nations, including in offices, remote work, and management positions. NGOs must get approval from intelligence services for new hires and review the backgrounds of current employees.
There are also bans on educational and public awareness programs, as well as on women’s health and mental health centers outside of government facilities.
Additionally, NGOs are prohibited from providing healthcare or psychological services to women and from implementing humanitarian projects, including peace, advocacy, and public awareness initiatives.
In September 2021, the Taliban replaced the Ministry of Women’s Affairs with the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue. Since then, women have been required to stay at home, and in March 2022, they were banned from working in offices.
In July 2022, women in the Ministry of Finance were told to send male relatives to work for them. In June 2024, women’s salaries were reduced to 5,000 Afghanis. Many women workers, including hostesses, bakers, and street vendors, were fired, and businesses like beauty salons were closed. In December 2024, the Taliban set up a ”Special Retirement Rights Court” to decide if women are eligible for pensions.
These restrictions include limitations on women’s dress and presence in the media, banning women from appearing in TV and radio programs, media censorship, and the exclusion of women from media decision-making.
Women are banned from traveling without a male guardian for trips over 72 kilometers and from visiting public bathhouses, health centers, shrines, and certain parks.
Women cannot travel abroad without a male guardian and valid reason. Travel agencies are prohibited from selling tickets to women without a male guardian. Men and women cannot travel together in Kabul, and women are not allowed to use public transport without a male guardian.
Protests without Taliban approval, women’s voices in public, and friendships with non-Muslims are banned.
Women are advised to wear burqas or stay at home, with mandatory black veils, face masks, and gloves in some areas.
Women cannot enter health centers without a male guardian. In some areas, women are restricted to specific hours or banned entirely.
Women’s driving licenses are banned, and shopkeepers cannot speak to women during purchases.
Women without a male guardian are banned from restaurants. In Herat, couples must show a marriage certificate.
Women are banned from using smartphones in public.
Women are restricted to specific days for park visits and banned from some parks and historical sites.
Women are banned from gyms and sports, with women’s sports clubs shut down.
Windows in buildings with women are blocked.
By analyzing the mentioned restrictions, it can be said that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women have had and will continue to have devastating and widespread consequences in various social, economic, political, educational, and psychological aspects.
One of the significant consequences of these restrictions is the disempowerment of women in making individual and social decisions. According to recent reports, 98 % of Afghan women have stated that they have no influence in their social and family decision-making. These restrictions are particularly evident inside homes, where on average, about 60 % of women are deprived of participating in family decisions. Additionally, they have increased social isolation, limited women’s social interactions, and reduced participation in cultural activities, which have effectively excluded women from public interactions.
In the political sphere, according to a recent report by Alison Davidian, the UN representative for women in Afghanistan, there are no women in leadership positions, either nationally or provincially, within the Taliban’s structure. These three years of restrictions have led to the complete elimination of women from political and social arenas, and in the few cases where women still have roles, their positions are mostly limited to monitoring the enforcement of discriminatory orders against other women.
In the educational sector, by restricting girls’ education, the gender gap in Afghanistan has widened, eliminating equal opportunities for women. The lack of access to education, particularly after the sixth grade, has led to a decline in literacy and skills among women. The ban on girls’ education has directly contributed to an increase in child marriages and early pregnancies. According to a UN report, the deprivation of over 1.1 million girls from school and 100,000 women from universities could result in a 45 % increase in early pregnancies and a 50 % rise in maternal mortality rates in the coming years. According to UNESCO reports, as new school year starts in Afghanistan March 2025, nearly 400,000 more girls have been deprived of their right to education, bringing the total to approximately 2.2 million girls affected by educational restrictions in Afghanistan. And according to UNICEF If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school. which is considered a major crisis for the future of Afghan women. This educational deprivation, in addition to its social, economic, and psychological harms, poses a serious threat to future generations. Recent data by UN, AFGHANISTAN GENDER COUNTRY PROFILE 2024 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY shows a 25 % increase in child marriages following the ban on girls’ education.
Additionally, 9.6 % of Afghan girls are married before the age of 15, indicating that many girls are forced into marriage before reaching social and economic maturity. The reason for this trend can be explained as follows: without education, girls have limited options for their future. As a result, parents encourage them to marry early to relieve financial burdens. In some cases, forced marriages are also seen as a way to protect family ”honor” and social status. The effects of these premature and forced marriages have led to increased violence against women. The combined effect of gender-segregation requirements and a lack of educated women will be far-reaching, shutting women out of public life, access to services, knowledge. Keeping girls out of secondary school costs Afghanistan 2.5% of its annual GDP, and overall economic losses due to the erosion of women’s employment are estimated at up to USD 1 billion (5 percent of GDP).
In the economic sphere, the ban on women’s employment in government offices, NGOs, and businesses, along with the reduction of women’s salaries to 5,000 Afghanis per month or the complete termination of their wages, has resulted in the loss of women’s financial independence. Additionally, this has led to increased poverty among families headed by women and has further increased women’s economic dependence on men. The ban on female entrepreneurship has also hindered economic growth and self-sufficiency, contributing to a decline in foreign investment in sectors related to women.
Another alarming consequence of these restrictions is the mental health crisis among Afghan women. The psychological effects of these restrictions include increased depression and anxiety, rising suicide rates, and worsening mental health conditions. According to UN data, 68 % of women describe their mental health as ”bad” or ”very bad”. Moreover, reports from UNICEF and UN-Habitat indicate that 8 % of Afghan women know at least one woman or girl who has attempted suicide. This mental health crisis, particularly among young women, is caused by continuous oppression, lack of educational and employment opportunities, lack of access to recreational activities, and social discrimination. Additionally, the ban on women entering healthcare facilities without a male guardian has led to a decline in the number of female doctors and has deprived women of adequate medical and mental health services, worsening the mental health crisis among Afghan women.
Restrictions on access to media and human rights organizations have left women more vulnerable to domestic and social violence. Strict censorship and the prohibition of protests have prevented women from raising their voices to the global community. Taliban laws not only severely restrict women’s rights but have also intensified discriminatory attitudes against them. The Taliban’s new law deems women’s voices inappropriate for public spaces as the called.
One of the other consequences of the restrictions imposed on women under the Taliban regime is their removal from judicial processes. Currently, verdicts are issued without the presence of women, and they can only attend court when accompanied by a male guardian (mahram), which many women do not have. This issue not only limits women’s access to justice, but also poses a serious threat to gender equality and human rights in Afghanistan.
Reports by Beshno the voice of Afghanistan and in one of policy brief of DROPS describe Afghanistan as an ”open prison” for women, where they are deprived of education, employment, mobility, and free speech. The Taliban’s restrictions have stripped women of their most fundamental rights, turning a gender issue into a broader humanitarian crisis with devastating effects on Afghan society.
The loss of economic independence, lack of educational opportunities, and severe social and cultural restrictions endanger not only the future of Afghan women but also the nation’s stability. This urgent crisis demands immediate international attention and effective action to support Afghan women.
The Taliban, during both their first rule in the 1990s and their return to power in 2021, have maintained their fundamental views on women’s rights. There has been no major shift in their behavior or ideology; rather, they have gradually intensified restrictions on women. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, stated in his 2025 report that the Taliban have not moderated their stance but continue to enforce a discriminatory and misogynistic agenda. These restrictions are now even harsher than those imposed during their first regime (1996–2001).
A key source for understanding the Taliban’s governance ideology is the book ”Al-Emarah Al-Islamiyah wa Nizamha” by Sheikh Abdul Hakim Haqqani, translated into Persian by Dr. Mohammad Saleh Mosleh. Officially endorsed by the Taliban leader, some analysts consider it their governance manifesto. This book clearly outlines the Taliban’s fundamentalist ideology, portraying women as weak and suited only for domestic roles, excluding them from social and political participation. The Taliban see their current policies as fully aligned with their ideology and feel no need for change. Their spokesperson even ignored International Women’s Day (March 8), claiming Afghan women already live in ”peace, security, and stability” with their rights supposedly ensured under Islamic law and Afghan traditions.
The Taliban’s rigid, unchanged stance on women indicates that no reform in their views is likely. Global silence on these restrictions will have severe consequences. A policy briefing titled ”The Taliban’s Moral Law: Controlling Afghan Women and Girls and the Global Responsibility to Respond” highlights that this systematic oppression is not just a domestic crisis but a threat to global peace and stability. The Taliban’s extreme policies, which aim to exclude women from social, economic, and educational spheres, have international repercussions—worsening the humanitarian crisis, fueling mass migration, increasing insecurity, spreading extremism, and normalizing gender-based discrimination and human rights violations.
The international response has been weak and ineffective. While many countries and organizations have condemned the Taliban’s actions, no significant measures have been taken to change the situation for Afghan women. The Taliban continuously test global reactions by imposing new restrictions; in the absence of strong pushback, these measures become normalized. For example, when they first regained power, their restrictions were relatively limited, but over time, they escalated, stripping Afghan women of their most basic rights.
Afghanistan’s stability directly impacts global security. Ignoring the rights of half the country’s population will lead to long-term instability. Investing in women’s rights and strengthening civil society is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic necessity to prevent future crises. Under international conventions and human rights principles, countries have a duty to protect human rights without discrimination. Neglecting the oppression of Afghan women violates these commitments, and the world cannot remain indifferent to such blatant injustice.
The world must act now—ignoring this crisis today will only lead to greater global challenges in the future. Upholding human rights, peace, and global security requires a swift, coordinated, and sustained response against this oppression.
the following insights and recommendations are drawn from the ”Summary Report of Country-Wide Women’s Consultations” and the ”Policy Brief from DROPS,” which highlight the critical situation of Afghan women under the Taliban and the actions the international community must take.
Afghan women have expressed deep frustration with the international community’s approach, highlighting its failure to address the severity of the humanitarian crisis and human rights violations under Taliban rule. Women across Afghanistan refuse to accept their current reality as their future and emphasize that the global community must be held accountable for their situation. Through nationwide consultations, Afghan women have consistently demanded their voices be heard, urging global leaders to prioritize women’s rights in all discussions regarding Afghanistan.
Women demand that the international community engage with them directly, ensuring their representation in high-level dialogues and decision-making processes. They stress that international aid and diplomatic efforts must be tied to tangible improvements in their conditions, including access to education, employment, and public participation. The consistent exclusion of Afghan women from negotiations only strengthens oppressive policies, making it imperative for global actors to integrate Afghan women into all engagements concerning the country’s future.
To uphold fundamental human rights and ensure the protection of Afghan women, the international community must take decisive action:
Afghan women are currently facing one of the most difficult and critical periods in their history. At this time, not only have their basic rights been severely restricted, but their future is also shrouded in uncertainty and doubt. Since the return of the Taliban to power, the group has systematically violated the fundamental rights of women through repressive and limiting policies. These actions have led to the deprivation of Afghan women from education, employment, freedom of movement, and even the right to voice their concerns in society.
The gradual policies of the Taliban, which initially might have seemed less noticeable, have now clearly transformed into a major social and humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, the weak and ineffective response from the international community has only contributed to the continuation and intensification of this situation. Particularly concerning is the unchanging and fixed ideology of the Taliban regarding women’s rights, which indicates that the group has no intention of altering its policies.
This situation makes it clear that until effective and coordinated actions are taken by the international community, there will be no real or fundamental change in the status of Afghan women. The international community must take more decisive action through diplomacy, economic and political pressures, and support for Afghan women’s rights, in order to create the conditions necessary for positive change in the country. Only then can there be hope for improvement in the status of women and the restoration of their fundamental rights.
The ongoing crisis is not only a threat to Afghan women but also a major challenge for global peace and security. If this situation continues, not only Afghanistan but also the region and the world will face widespread negative consequences. Therefore, the world must act now, without any further delay, to address this crisis.
Storay Mohmand holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Kabul University. She began a Master’s program in Gender Studies at Kabul University, but her studies were interrupted when she worked at the Embassy of Finland in Kabul and was faced with serious security risks following the collapse of the Afghan government. She was quickly evacuated to Finland and is now seeking an opportunity to continue her interrupted studies. Storay is passionate about international affairs, gender equality, migration, education, and development. In addition, she is an artist and enjoys writing about women’s status and society.
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