KABUL: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has stated that the Taliban systematically and egregiously tramples the rights and freedoms of Afghan girls and women. In a report published on Saturday titled “Gender Index in Afghanistan for 2024,” the organization noted that women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan are largely excluded from social, economic, and educational participation. The report indicates that nearly 8 out of 10 young women in the country are deprived of jobs and professional education. Afghanistan has been identified as the second country in the world with the widest gender gap between women and men. According to UN Women, there is a 76% disparity between women and men in areas such as health, education, financial access, and decision-making participation. The United Nations has warned that sustainable progress in Afghanistan is not possible without the empowerment and participation of women. This comes amid ongoing restrictions imposed by the Taliban, leading to a deepening human rights crisis where girls and women continue to be barred from education, work, and social engagement. Additionally, reports of Afghan refugees facing humiliation during forced expulsions from neighboring countries and the detention of girls due to the lack of male guardianship have heightened concerns about the human rights situation in the country.
