New York: The United Nations has issued a stark warning over the complete marginalization of Afghan women and girls, reporting that their participation in governance and education has now plummeted to virtually zero.
According to a new report released Tuesday by UN Women — the most thorough assessment of gender inequality in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 — women are now entirely excluded from all national and local decision-making roles. In addition, a ban imposed in December 2024 has effectively ended secondary education for Afghan girls.
UN Women’s Chief of Humanitarian Action, Sofia Calltorp, described the situation as “a deliberate and unprecedented assault” on the rights and presence of Afghan women in public life. Despite sweeping restrictions, she emphasized that Afghan women remain resilient and continue to push back against their erasure.
The study reveals that Afghanistan currently holds the second-worst gender gap globally, with women realizing just 17% of their potential compared to men — a figure that reflects disparities in health, education, financial inclusion, and leadership.
Calltorp acknowledged that gender inequality in Afghanistan predates the Taliban’s takeover, but stressed that the regime has imposed “institutionalized discrimination” on top of long-standing systemic barriers.
Among the most jarring statistics is the labor force participation rate: only 24% of women are employed, compared to 89% of men. Economic hardship has pushed more women into the workforce out of necessity, but most remain in low-paying, unstable jobs while still bearing the burden of unpaid domestic responsibilities.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Afghan women continue to show resilience — running businesses, advocating for rights, and supporting their communities under increasingly harsh restrictions. “Their courage spans generations,” said Calltorp.
However, as the humanitarian situation worsens, so too does the support available. The UN’s 2025 aid plan for Afghanistan is only 18% funded, leading to the shutdown of hundreds of critical support sites, including nutrition centers for mothers and children, and facilities for survivors of gender-based violence — affecting over a million women and girls.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed that the continued exclusion of women not only hinders Afghanistan’s progress toward global development goals but also deepens poverty and instability.
“Afghanistan’s greatest untapped resource is its women and girls,” Bahous stated.
The UN has made an urgent appeal to the international community to step up funding and support. “If we allow the systematic erasure of Afghan women and girls, we risk undermining the rights of women and girls everywhere,” warned Calltorp.
Despite the grave situation, the message from UN Women remains clear: the world must not abandon Afghan women — because they have not given up on themselves.
