New findings from a UN report reveal that Taliban policies have shifted family views on girls’ education in Afghanistan. According to the report, fear of the Taliban and entrenched patriarchal norms have led to declining support for girls’ education, with the Taliban systematically excluding women from public life. In interviews with 776 women across Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, 79% reported restricted access to public spaces like parks and health centers. Additionally, 69% of women expressed feeling unsafe outside their homes, 57% reported a significant financial decline, and 79% noted that they had not utilized formal dispute resolution channels in the past year. Many women shared that Taliban restrictions have led some to view girls’ education as unnecessary or even shameful.
UN Women, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a joint report on human rights conditions in Afghanistan, stating that Taliban policies have shifted family perspectives on girls’ education. The report indicates that these policies have also heightened domestic tensions and violence, eroding women’s access to justice.
The report discusses the Taliban’s “Law for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” which has spurred arbitrary and severe measures, including restrictions on women’s visibility and voices. By examining conditions before and after this “law,” the report highlights worsening circumstances for both men and women nationwide.
From July 17 to July 27, UN bodies conducted interviews, both in-person and online, with 776 women from Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to collect diverse perspectives from Afghan women in various regions. The survey included 58% urban women, 20% from semi-urban areas, and 19% who were household heads. Among these women, 35% were internally displaced, 19% were returnees, 5% were employed, 50% were unemployed, and 49% had disabilities. To capture male perspectives on women’s rights, the report also included consultations with 57 men from 11 provinces, noting that men’s responses on identity-based issues often aligned closely with women’s experiences.
The findings indicate that over the past 12 months, 79% of interviewees were barred from public spaces like parks and health centers. Women reported that the Taliban prevented them from entering recreational and historical sites, even with close male relatives, stating that these spaces are reserved for men. Additionally, 17% of male respondents acknowledged these restrictions.
The report shows that 69% of women felt unsafe outside their homes, with many linking this to social isolation, mental health challenges, and rising levels of depression and anxiety. By comparison, 19% of men also reported feeling insecure outside their homes.
The report underscores significant shifts in societal attitudes toward girls’ education: “Nearly half of these women (47%) feel that community support for primary education for girls has declined, with 65% noting reduced support for secondary education.” While some families continue to educate their daughters secretly, others are now focusing on vocational or religious studies as alternatives in the current climate.
Approximately 57% of interviewed women reported severe financial hardship, attributing this to gender discrimination in hiring practices. Both male and female respondents pointed to this bias as originating from individuals associated with the Taliban.
Income opportunities have declined for 73% of women and 55% of men. Among these, 57% of women reported substantial deterioration in their conditions, compared to 34% of men, reflecting significant gender inequality in Afghanistan’s labor market. In sectors where women’s work is not entirely prohibited, they are often offered low-paying jobs; many women voiced frustration that men are frequently hired in their place. The report notes that the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has closed down offices, claiming that they violated orders barring women from working in non-governmental organizations.
Respondents highlighted a substantial drop in access to both formal and informal legal services, with 79% stating they had not used any official conflict resolution mechanisms in the past year. Additionally, 25% of women said they wished to access these services but faced accessibility barriers. Women reported that without a male escort, they cannot visit Taliban courts or government offices that handle legal issues; many cases are dismissed or ignored due to gender discrimination.
The report includes remarks from some respondents who believe that Taliban restrictions are beneficial for family life, as they reflect women’s societal roles and obligations. Some individuals described girls’ secondary education as unnecessary or even shameful. Both male and female respondents noted that in the absence of secondary and higher education opportunities, even primary education for girls holds little value, leading to diminished motivation among female students and an increase in early marriages. The report emphasizes that parents feel compelled to select among limited options to mitigate the negative impacts of Taliban policies on their children’s futures.
An incident included in the report describes a woman being presented to a local council only to face verbal abuse. Women are required to wear burqas or chadors and to sit in the corner during council meetings, where they may only respond with “yes” or “no.”
In the report, both male and female respondents called on the Taliban to unconditionally lift restrictions on girls’ and women’s access to education, allowing them safe access to quality schooling. They urged the Taliban to honor women’s and girls’ rights and to respect Afghanistan’s international obligations. Respondents also requested the removal of economic barriers to women’s empowerment and called for guaranteed access to public services, justice, and public spaces. Additionally, they appealed to the international community to continue its advocacy for women’s rights.
The Taliban’s response, included in the report, dismissed the report’s methodology as flawed, describing its findings as allegations against the group.
Since August 2022, UN Women, the International Organization for Migration, and UNAMA have collaborated on quarterly reports on Afghanistan’s situation. Interviews with men are included to discuss issues affecting their lives with the UN.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
بررسی جدید سازمان ملل؛ تغییر دیدگاه خانوادهها و افزایش خشونتهای خانوادهگی | روزنامه ۸صبح
