Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, women and girls continue to face widespread restrictions affecting education, employment, healthcare, and public life. Girls have been barred from attending school beyond the sixth grade since September 2021, and access to university education has also been limited. Some students have turned to online learning, but economic challenges and weak internet access have restricted these efforts. Women have also been removed from many government positions, their salaries reduced, and employment for women in several United Nations agencies suspended. Access to parks, public places, and beauty services has also been restricted. Under social and religious rules imposed by the Taliban, women must cover their faces and bodies in public and cannot travel or seek certain services without a male guardian. International organizations and human rights groups have raised concerns over the situation. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and other officials over alleged crimes against humanity. Despite international pressure, the Taliban say women’s rights are protected within what they describe as an Islamic framework.
