Five Years Under Taliban Rule: Afghan Women's Lives Unrecognizable, UN Urges Aid

Five years after the U.S. withdrawal, Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule, with United Nations agencies and human rights organizations reporting a systematic erosion of women's and girls' rights. The de facto authorities have issued over 100 decrees that severely restrict women's lives, including banning girls from secondary and higher education, excluding women from most forms of employment, and limiting their freedom of movement. Many women now report leaving their homes infrequently and feeling unsafe without a male guardian.

These stringent policies have led to a profound humanitarian and human rights crisis, often described by experts as "gender apartheid." Access to healthcare has become increasingly difficult due to mobility restrictions and a growing shortage of female medical professionals, contributing to high maternal mortality rates and a widespread mental health crisis among women. Critical institutions that once protected women's rights have been dismantled, replaced by a justice system that often enforces decrees enabling child marriage and restricts women's ability to seek legal redress.

Amidst this, over 21 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance, with women and girls disproportionately affected. International aid efforts are hampered by deep funding cuts, forcing the closure of essential clinics and services. Organizations are urging the international community not to normalize relations with the Taliban and to provide urgent support to address the ongoing humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.