A recent report by the U.N. mission in Afghanistan shed light on the challenges faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule. The report stated that Afghan women feel frightened and unsafe when leaving their homes alone due to Taliban decrees and enforcement campaigns on clothing and male guardians. The Taliban's restrictions on women's access to public life, education, work, travel, and healthcare have significantly impacted the daily lives of Afghan women.
Since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures that have prevented women from participating in society freely. They have barred women from most areas of public life, restricted girls' education beyond sixth grade, and imposed strict guidelines on women's clothing and behavior. The enforcement of these decrees includes arrest, harassment, and intimidation, leaving women feeling vulnerable and fearful of leaving their homes.
The report noted that over half of the women interviewed felt unsafe without a male guardian, known as a mahram. While some women felt safer when accompanied by a mahram, they expressed frustration at being dependent on someone else for their security. The limitations imposed by the Taliban have deprived women of even simple moments of leisure or stimulation outside their homes.
The Taliban's Vice and Virtue Ministry, responsible for enforcing these decrees, denied claims that women are scared to go out alone. They stated that women who observe hijab have no issues and emphasized the importance of male guardians in ensuring women's dignity and respect. However, human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized the Taliban's actions, with Heather Barr describing Afghan women's fear of leaving home unaccompanied as 'damning and devastating.'
The U.N. envoy for Afghanistan has warned the Taliban that international recognition as the country's legitimate government will remain difficult unless they lift restrictions on women. The situation facing Afghan women remains of utmost concern, with ongoing discussions and meetings seeking to address the human rights crisis that has affected women and girls in Afghanistan.
