The Taliban’s institutionalisation of its system of oppression of women and girls, and the harms that it is continuing to entrench, should shock the conscience of humanity… These violations are so severe and extensive that they appear to form a widespread and systemic attack on a civilian population which may amount to crimes against humanity.
Under Taliban Rule and enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, over 80 edicts, decrees and bans of women’s fundamental rights have been issued since 2021.
Girls aged 12 and over are banned from attending school resulting in the closure of all high schools and universities to girls and women. In December 2024, midwifery and nursing institutions were closed which effectively ended women’s last opportunity to further education.
Leaving the house without a male chaperone is a risk to their safety. The requirement of wearing the burqa which severely restricts women’s vision is a further violation of their rights. Recently an edict was issued requiring the boarding up of any windows facing the street in case women were seen looking outside. Women are banned from entering all parks, gyms and playing sports.
Singing, reciting, reading aloud in public is banned. Radio programs run by women addressing women’s health and subjects of general interest have been banned. Women are expected to remain silent when outside or whisper when required. Even at home they must keep their voices low.
Women have been banned from working in public administration roles, in private companies with many women-owned businesses such as beauty salons forcibly closed. In 2022, women were banned from working for national or international NGO such as the UN. A country torn by war for decades, millions of women have been the breadwinners for their families. With the loss of income due to the bans on employment, many households have been forced into crushing poverty. Forced and early marriages are increasingly on the rise with the selling of girls into marriage as young as 8 to 10 years of age in order for families to survive.
Female doctors are banned from working with male colleagues which means that health services for women have drastically declined. With the closure of midwifery and nursing schools in December 2024, women’s health has been further endangered in a country already having a deficit of over 18,000 qualified midwifes according to UN in August 2024. While globally suicides are almost twice as more common among men than in women, the opposite is true in Afghanistan with around 80% of the total suicide attempts being committed by women.
According to UN Women, the Justice System that previously protected women’s rights has been dismantled resulting in Afghanistan ranking amongst the world’s countries with the highest rates of gender based violence with no recourse to protection. Women are not allowed to divorce and those suffering physical, mental, sexual abuse must do so in silence.
