The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recently released its first quarterly human rights report of 2025, detailing how the Taliban is enforcing decrees designed to severely restrict women’s public life and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan. The report is a stark evaluation of the Taliban’s policies following their seizure of control in August 2021, after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
One of the pivotal issues addressed in UNAMA’s report is the ongoing prohibition against girls attending school beyond the sixth grade, with no signs that higher education will be accessible to women in the near future. This exclusion from education is aligned with broader efforts to restrict women’s public participation since the Taliban’s return to power. Beyond education, Afghan women also face increasing barriers to participating in various aspects of public life, including restricted access to essential services like healthcare, markets, and even basic transport, unless accompanied by a male guardian.
The report further reveals oppressive measures that restrict women’s employment opportunities. Notably, a decree issued in 2023 forbids women from operating beauty salons, even those in private homes, with authorities reportedly conducting searches to ensure compliance. Additionally, many women-run businesses, such as radio stations, have been shut down due to the enforced mandate of requiring male registration holders.
In contradiction to these findings, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declared on March 8—International Women’s Day—that mistreatment of women has been effectively eliminated under the governance that purportedly upholds women’s rights in accordance with Sharia law and Afghan cultural values.
Despite the Taliban’s assertions, UNAMA’s report highlights the significant gap between these claims and the lived realities of Afghan women. Although there have been some efforts to enforce rights related to women’s inheritance and to intervene in forced marriages, the report concludes that systemic exclusion from meaningful participation in society continues unabated.
Efforts to hold the Taliban accountable through international legal frameworks have thus far faltered. The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has sought to investigate Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity focused on gender persecution. However, the Taliban has dismissed the ICC’s authority, claiming that the Court’s interpretation does not align with Afghanistan’s religious and national identity.
For those who wish to delve further into the UNAMA’s findings, the detailed report is available on the UNAMA website.