In the fourth year following Kabul's descent, the Taliban manages to largely shut out women from public life
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, severe restrictions on Afghan women's education, work, and public life have been imposed.
The Taliban have largely banned secondary education for girls beyond a certain grade, effectively limiting educational opportunities for most Afghan girls and women. Female university education has been heavily restricted or banned in most regions under their control.
Women face significant barriers to employment. Many sectors prohibit women from working, especially in public-facing roles or mixed-gender workplaces. Restrictions extend to female government employment and professional fields, limiting women's participation in the workforce and economic independence.
Women are required to adhere to strict dress codes, typically including the wearing of burqas or hijabs, and their movement outside the home is often restricted or requires accompaniment by a male guardian. Access to public spaces is curtailed, and participation in politics, activism, and civil society activities is either banned or extremely constrained under Taliban rule.
These restrictions represent a marked rollback from the progress Afghan women made during the two decades before 2021, effectively excluding them from many aspects of formal social, educational, and economic life under Taliban governance.
Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the former deputy foreign minister of the Taliban, has criticized the ban on girls' education at a graduation ceremony in Khost province on January 20. Reports emerged of the Taliban going door-to-door, compiling lists of women aged 12 to 45 to force them to marry Islamist fighters. In March 2022, Afghan girls were banned from attending secondary school.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Supreme Leader Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani for the crime against humanity of persecution on the grounds of gender. The UN says women are experiencing "total exclusion" from Afghan society.
Stanikzai fled the country after an arrest order from the Taliban's Supreme Leader Akhundzada and a travel ban. President Ashraf Ghani declared the Taliban had "won" shortly after fleeing the country, and the Taliban government declared Stanikzai on "indefinite sick leave." Russia is the only country to have recognized the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
Cornet, a human rights activist, is still in touch with some women in Afghanistan who want to feel that their rights are still on the agenda. Cornet believes that engaging with the Taliban and talking to them is the most effective tool to influence them regarding women's rights. However, the Taliban authorities have rejected warrants issued by the International Criminal Court as "nonsense."
The US flag was no longer seen flying at the US embassy in Kabul, symbolizing a significant shift in the political landscape of Afghanistan. The Taliban took over Kabul four years ago.
This ongoing situation continues to raise concerns about the future of Afghan women and girls, as they face a grim new reality under Taliban rule.
- The Taliban's severe restrictions on Afghan women's education, work, and public life extend to prohibiting female university education and limiting opportunities for most girls and women.
- The international community, including the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, has criticized the Taliban for their perceived human rights violations against women.
- Womens-health and education-and-self-development are significantly impacted by the Taliban's restrictions, as women face challenges in accessing healthcare and continuing their education beyond a certain grade.
- The Taliban's restrictions on women are reminiscent of the regime's past, marking a rollback from the progress made during the two decades before 2021.
- In the realm of politics, the Taliban has rejected warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, demonstrating a refusal to engage with the international community on issues of human rights.
- The health-and-wellness of Afghan women must be a priority in international news, as they face ongoing challenges in accessing education, healthcare, and employment under Taliban rule.
