Women’s Rights Crisis in Afghanistan 

One atrocity Afghan women face is the ban on girls' education beyond sixth grade. Education past the sixth grade is banned for girls, meaning their schooling is completely halted at about age 12–13, if not earlier. As a result of this education ban, UN Women reports that nearly 80% of women between the ages of 18–29 are not in education, training, or employment. Many girls who crave the opportunity to learn are forced to study in secret, risking severe consequences if discovered. Because of the lack of education, they are also denied the right to employment. They are excluded from most professions, from government and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to journalism and even beauty salons. Afghanistan's entire de facto cabinet is composed of men, as are leadership positions at the subnational level. Working alongside men in decision-making can bring serious punishment, and women are banned from such activities. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, a governmental body established in 2001 to promote and secure the legal rights and advancement of women in Afghanistan, was abolished and replaced with the “Ministry for Preaching and Guidance and the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” erasing women's formal representation in government.

Women are also not allowed to choose how they dress freely; clothing is severely restricted by the government. A Taliban mandate in 2022 required an “Islamic dress [code],” limiting how much of a woman’s face may be visible. The traditional and expected piece of clothing is a burqa, which allows only the hands and feet to be exposed and often includes a covering over the eyes for modesty. A burqa predates Islam—it has been seen in ancient Assyria, Greece, and Persia—and can be an important element of cultural tradition. The problem is that many women are not choosing to wear the burqa; they are being forced to wear it. Some Afghan women have publicly opposed the mandate, using social media hashtags such as #DoNotTouchMyClothes and sharing images of their cultural and traditional dresses. Women who campaigned against the dress code had their families face repercussions: brothers, fathers, husbands, or sons could be held accountable if a woman did not obey the dress code. Punishments could include jail time for the woman or sanctions such as losing employment for the male "guardian."

That is, if Afghan women even step outside. Beyond strict rules on dress and behavior, they are also banned from many public places, leaving them trapped inside with little to no contact with the outside world. They are barred from parks, gyms, sports clubs, beauty salons, public speaking, and more. They are also banned from traveling more than 75 km without a male relative. To give a sense of scale, that is about 34.7 km less than the distance from Kenilworth to the Jersey Shore. Imagine a girl in Kenilworth who simply goes down the shore with her friends. If she lived in Afghanistan, she would not even be able to reach the Jersey Shore without risking punishment. If women are found breaking travel or public-place restrictions, they can face arbitrary detention, arrest, or punishment of their male relatives. If detained, they can be released only after signing a pledge not to break the rules again. Although decreed by the Taliban, enforcement of these rules is reported to be inconsistent across the country.

In addition to these infringements on Afghan women’s rights, there is an apparent health crisis. As of 2024, 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan are married by age 15 and 4.1 million are married by age 18. The bans on university and secondary education for women and girls are estimated to increase child marriage by 25% by 2026. With these and other restrictions, Afghan women are experiencing a severe mental-health crisis.

The horrors of the situation for Afghan women continue daily. The world is largely watching as Afghan women are treated as less than human, which will hinder peace and equality worldwide. There are ways to help Afghan women and support their rights. One way is to donate to reputable organizations such as UN Women, Women for Women International, Women for Afghan Women, and the Malala Fund. Another way is to support and advocate for women’s rights; although advocacy may not immediately change conditions in Afghanistan, advocating for human rights is not wasted—small steps can contribute to larger change. Finally, support initiatives that develop leadership skills and help women maintain professional roles. More women in professional roles promotes gender equality and helps prevent further infringements on women's rights.

1 https://childmarriagedata.org/country-profiles/afghanistan/