The United Nations has issued a fresh warning over the condition of women and girls in Afghanistan, saying restrictions imposed since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 have created what it describes as the world’s most severe women’s rights crisis.
In a series of recent reports, UN agencies said Afghan women have experienced systematic reductions in their access to education, employment, healthcare, freedom of movement and participation in public life.
According to the findings, more than 100 decrees and directives affecting women and girls have been introduced since the Taliban regained control of the country, creating what UN Women describes as a system of institutionalised discrimination.
The Taliban has defended many of its policies as being consistent with its interpretation of Islamic law, but the measures have drawn sustained criticism from the United Nations, human rights organisations and many governments around the world.
Rights narrowed since 2021
Since taking power following the withdrawal of international forces and the collapse of Afghanistan’s previous government, the Taliban has introduced progressively tighter restrictions affecting women and girls.
UN Women said those measures have expanded over time, with the situation becoming even more restrictive since 2025.
The agency’s assessment indicates that the cumulative effect of the policies extends beyond individual bans.
Instead, it argues they have reshaped nearly every aspect of daily life for Afghan women.
The restrictions affect education, employment opportunities, travel, access to public spaces and participation in civic life.
For many women, everyday activities that were previously routine have become increasingly difficult or impossible.
Education remains one of the biggest concerns
One of the UN’s strongest criticisms centres on education.
According to UNESCO, approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls remained excluded from secondary education as of 2026.
The organisation said Afghanistan has become the only country in the world where girls and women are formally prohibited from continuing education beyond the primary level.
UNESCO warned that the policy threatens to reverse decades of educational progress achieved before the Taliban’s return to power.
The agency also argued that preventing millions of girls from accessing secondary education could have long-term consequences for the country’s economy, poverty levels and social development.
The organisation described education as a fundamental human right and warned that continued restrictions risk causing irreversible damage to future generations.
Daily life becoming more restricted
UN Women also examined how the restrictions affect women’s everyday experiences.
According to interviews conducted as part of the agency’s research, roughly half of the women surveyed said they leave their homes only once or twice each month.
Many also reported feeling unsafe outside unless accompanied by a male guardian.
The findings suggest that formal restrictions have combined with fear, uncertainty and changing social conditions to reduce women’s mobility even further.
The agency argues that this has significantly limited women’s ability to work, study, seek healthcare or participate fully in community life.
The result, according to the UN, is a shrinking public space for women across Afghanistan.
Health concerns continue to grow
The reports also highlight growing concerns about women’s health.
UN Women said the restrictions coincide with shorter life expectancy, increased risks of maternal mortality, higher rates of child marriage and continuing gender-based violence.
The agency also warned of a worsening mental health crisis.
Isolation, reduced independence and limited opportunities have contributed to growing psychological pressure on many Afghan women, according to the report.
The UN argues that these challenges cannot be viewed separately because restrictions on education, employment and movement also influence health outcomes.
Limited access to healthcare services can become even more serious when women face additional barriers to travelling or seeking medical assistance.
UN raises accountability concerns
Separate findings released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan focused on broader human rights issues.
UNAMA reported continuing concerns about arbitrary detention, discrimination and other alleged human rights violations under Taliban rule.
The mission also expressed concern about what it described as limited public information regarding investigations into alleged abuses or efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The report said greater transparency would help strengthen public confidence in accountability mechanisms.
UNAMA has therefore called for stronger oversight across Afghanistan’s security institutions.
Security institutions under scrutiny
The UN also highlighted changes to Afghanistan’s governing structures since the Taliban takeover.
The authorities established institutions including the Security and Filtration Commission and the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice as part of their governing framework.
Those bodies have become central to implementing many of the policies affecting public behaviour and social regulations.
The UN says stronger safeguards are needed to ensure that security institutions operate with clear procedures, accountability mechanisms and standards consistent with international human rights principles.
International pressure continues
The situation in Afghanistan has remained a major issue in international diplomacy since 2021.
UN agencies have repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to reconsider policies affecting women and girls, arguing that greater inclusion would benefit both Afghan society and the country’s long-term development.
International organisations continue to stress that education, employment and freedom of movement are essential rights that contribute to economic recovery and social stability.
The Taliban, however, has maintained that its policies are based on its interpretation of Islamic principles and Afghan cultural values.
That fundamental disagreement has kept the issue at the centre of international discussions about Afghanistan’s future.
Long-term consequences
The latest UN assessments suggest that the impact of the restrictions extends well beyond immediate limitations on individual freedoms.
The agencies argue that excluding millions of women and girls from education and economic participation could reduce Afghanistan’s future workforce, weaken public services and deepen poverty.
The consequences could also affect future generations if today’s girls are unable to complete their education and develop professional skills.
UNESCO warned that denying education to millions of girls risks condemning the country to decades of lost potential.
Similarly, UN Women argues that reversing the current trend will require restoring opportunities for women to participate fully in education, employment, healthcare and public life.
Calls for greater protections
The UN’s latest reports amount to another appeal for stronger protections for Afghan women and girls.
UNAMA has called on the authorities to improve accountability within security institutions through clearer rules, procedures and codes of conduct.
UN Women and UNESCO have meanwhile renewed calls for the restoration of girls’ access to education and the removal of barriers limiting women’s participation in society.
Together, the reports present a consistent message: that restrictions introduced since 2021 have fundamentally altered the lives of millions of Afghan women and girls and that addressing the crisis will require significant changes to policies governing education, movement, work and public participation.
As Afghanistan continues under Taliban rule, the debate over women’s rights remains one of the country’s most closely watched human rights issues, with international organisations continuing to monitor developments and press for broader protections for women and girls across the country.
