Baharan Lahib

Afghanistan — This year’s March 8 arrived while women in Afghanistan face a reality very different from the global celebration of women’s achievements. For many Afghan women, the day serves as a reminder of increasing restrictions and the deterioration of their rights. Over the past year, the situation of women has sharply declined in many areas, including education, employment, and social participation, threatening the future of an entire generation of girls.

Afghanistan, with a population of nearly 40 million, includes women and girls who make up almost half of its people. Yet more than 78% of Afghan women and girls are deprived of education, vocational training, and employment. Millions of girls remain banned from attending secondary schools and universities.

According to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 2.2 million Afghan girls are currently out of school. This deprivation not only threatens the future of these girls but also creates long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s economic development and social stability.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned that if the current situation continues, more than four million girls in Afghanistan will be deprived of secondary education by 2030. The lack of educational opportunities has caused many families to lose hope in their daughters’ futures. In some areas, girls are forced into early marriage, putting their lives and health at serious risk.

At the same time, Afghan women face extensive restrictions in the workplace. Many are barred from working in both governmental and non-governmental institutions. According to a report by Reporters Without Borders, more than 80% of women working in media and other institutions lost their jobs after 2021.

The unemployment rate among women is estimated to exceed 90%, a situation that has increased poverty among households led by women. The lack of opportunities for independent income has forced many women to rely entirely on their families or husbands, further limiting their social rights. Rising food prices and declining international aid have also worsened women’s economic conditions.

Violence against women is another serious crisis in Afghanistan. In November 2025, UN Women reported that at least 14.2 million Afghan women and girls required protection from gender-based violence during the previous year.

Domestic, social, and customary forms of violence often prevent women from reporting abuse, allowing it to continue and increase. At the same time, concerns have grown about the absence of legal protections for women.

 

A deeply concerning health situation

According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in October 2025, 215 people, including 44 women, were publicly flogged during the last three months of that year. The punishments were often imposed for accusations such as relationships outside marriage or violations of social restrictions.

Arbitrary detention of women also continues. Some women have been arrested because of their clothing, movements, or presence in public places, and were held for days or even weeks without being allowed to contact lawyers or their families.

The health situation for women in Afghanistan is extremely alarming. The country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 638 mothers die per 100,000 births, meaning that an Afghan woman dies from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes roughly every two hours.

The shortage of female doctors, limited access to health facilities, poverty, and insecurity are among the main contributing factors. Many women must travel long distances to receive medical care, and in some cases they cannot access healthcare facilities without a male guardian. As a result, a large proportion of births occur at home without medical specialists, increasing the risk of death for both mothers and newborns.

In addition to physical health problems, the mental health crisis among Afghan women has intensified. According to UN Women, nearly 90% of women and girls suffer from serious psychological distress, largely due to poverty, violence, social exclusion, and widespread cultural restrictions.

Early marriage also continues. Because of poverty or lack of education, many families marry off their daughters at a young age, leading to severe consequences for their health, education, and future.

 

Conditions in prisons

The situation in women’s prisons in Afghanistan is also a major concern. Reports indicate that the number of imprisoned women has increased significantly since 2021. According to statistics released by the Taliban authorities, about 1,825 women were detained in 34 women’s prisons across Afghanistan in 2026.

Many of these women were imprisoned on charges such as “running away from home,” “extramarital relationships,” or violating social restrictions. Reports also indicate that living conditions in some prisons are difficult, with shortages of food, healthcare, and sanitation services, as well as limited access to lawyers and family visits.

Despite all these challenges, Afghan women continue striving to preserve their voices. Women’s groups, social activists, and informal education networks are working to keep hope alive for education and social participation.

On International Women’s Day, some women in Kabul and other cities attempted once again to bring the silent voices of Afghan women to the world by organizing symbolic actions and limited protests.