The Unseen Women Of Afghanistan: A Population In The Shadows

Women and girls make up over a third of Afghanistan's population, with more than 11 million under the age of 25. Since the Taliban takeover, women's rights have been severely restricted, with women banned from working and girls prohibited from attending school. Women are also facing increasing levels of domestic violence, abuse, and exploitation, with 87% of Afghan women experiencing at least one form of gender-based violence and 62% experiencing all three forms: psychological, physical, and sexual. The Taliban's restrictions on women's education and employment will significantly impact the delivery of humanitarian aid, as female aid workers are critical to reaching and supporting women and girls within communities. The international community must address the unique challenges faced by Afghan women and girls, including the need for safe refuge and a gender-sensitive response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Women's rights in Afghanistan

During the first Taliban regime (1996-2001), women had very little freedom, especially in terms of civil liberties. Women were barred from attending school, working, leaving the house without a male chaperone, and speaking publicly. They were also denied access to healthcare, as they were forbidden from being treated by male doctors, and female doctors were not allowed to work.

When the Taliban was overthrown by the United States following the 9/11 attacks, women's rights gradually improved under the presidential Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Women were de jure equal to men under the 2004 Constitution. However, in practice, these rights were mostly limited to urban areas.

After the Taliban seized power again in August 2021, it imposed severe restrictions on women, banning them from:

• Travelling more than 70 kilometres without a close male relative
• Wearing face coverings in public that reveal only their eyes
• Working in most sectors outside of health and education
• Studying in secondary schools and universities
• Entering parks and gyms
• Working for the United Nations

Women's rights activists have reported detentions, child marriages, forced marriages, and rapes. They have also been subject to serious threats, torture, and arbitrary detention for protesting.

The situation for women in Afghanistan is dire, and the international community must continue to advocate for and protect their rights.

Women's education in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is the only country in the world that forbids girls from going to school. The Taliban takeover has banned an additional 1,254,473 Afghan girls from attending secondary school, with an estimated 3.7 million children out-of-school in Afghanistan, 60% of them girls. This is a devastating decision that threatens to undo the huge gains made in education over the past two decades.

Before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan's education sector was thriving, with access for girls across all 34 provinces at all education levels, except in areas under Taliban control. From 2002 to 2021, 3,816,793 girls enrolled in first through 12th grades. There were over 200,000 teachers, including 80,554 women. Over 100,000 Afghan women were enrolled in public or private universities in 2020, and according to 2019 figures, there were 2,439 female lecturers at higher education institutions.

The Taliban's perspective on girls' education comes partly from a specific school of 19th-century Islamic thought and partly from rural areas where tribalism is entrenched. The Taliban leadership believes women should not participate in anything social or public and should be kept away from education. They have also implemented over 20 written and verbal decrees on girls' education, with each edict adding more and more restrictions. These decrees ban co-education, secondary education for girls, certain majors for female university students (including journalism, law, agriculture, veterinary science, and economics), and annual university entrance exams for female students.

The consequences of the ban on women's education are dire and far-reaching. The ban has had a terrible toll on the mental health of Afghan women and girls, with reports of girls exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It has also led to an increase in child marriage and child labour, as well as a lack of qualified healthcare professionals, as female medical students had their studies halted. The ban on girls' education will have devastating, long-term implications not just for women and girls but for the very social and economic fabric of Afghan society, with half of the population unable to contribute to their country's future.

Despite the challenges, there are ongoing efforts to support girls' and women's education in Afghanistan. The Malala Fund has invested close to $1.9 million in local organizations to improve Afghan girls' access to free, safe, and quality education. They are also supporting Afghan education advocates who offer alternative education programs for girls while schools remain closed. UNICEF has also been strongly involved in supporting the education system in Afghanistan, running a successful literacy program that reached over 600,000 youth and adults, 60% of whom were women.

Women's health in Afghanistan

Healthcare Access and Availability

Even before the Taliban takeover, women in Afghanistan faced challenges in meeting their reproductive and sexual health needs. In the early 2000s, Afghanistan had the second-highest maternal mortality rate globally, with many women unable to access healthcare due to a lack of female health professionals. Male doctors were not permitted to treat female patients, and women could not visit male-only hospitals.

The Taliban's return to power has severely impacted women's access to healthcare. They have been shut out of the workforce, and girls have been denied access to education. The new government has also reviewed the curriculum with plans to make classes more Islamic. Additionally, the Taliban has replaced the Women's Affairs Ministry with the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, which previously served as a morality police force, enforcing strict Islamic law.

The quality of healthcare available to women is insufficient. In Kabul, there is only one medical facility for women, with limited beds and a lack of essential equipment and utilities. Maternal healthcare is particularly concerning, with only 10% of women able to access prenatal and maternal care. The mental health services available for women are also inadequate, with high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Impact on Society

The restrictions on women's access to healthcare and education have far-reaching consequences for Afghan society. Women are thrust into poverty due to limited employment opportunities, and families suffer from malnutrition and related illnesses. The lack of educated women in the healthcare sector will further exacerbate the shortage of female healthcare staff in the country.

International Response

The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, stating that it is "particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them."

There have been calls for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis, with world leaders being urged to fill the gap in aid funding to ensure that women and children can receive protection and meet their essential needs.

Way Forward

To improve women's healthcare in Afghanistan, each barrier to their access must be addressed. This includes tackling poverty, traditions, inadequate health facilities, and a lack of education. Additionally, the international community must continue to provide robust support and encourage an inclusive government that represents the interests of all Afghans, including women.

Women's employment in Afghanistan

During the 1990s, the Taliban imposed strict restrictions on women's freedom, particularly in terms of their civil liberties. Women were prohibited from working in most sectors outside of healthcare and education, and were not allowed to travel without a male relative.

Following the US-led overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, women's rights gradually improved under the presidential Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The 2004 Constitution granted women equal rights, and they were allowed to work in a variety of sectors, including government, healthcare, education, law, journalism, and business.

However, after the Taliban seized power again in August 2021, severe restrictions were once again imposed on women. They are barred from most sectors outside of healthcare and education, and are not allowed to travel more than 70 kilometres without a male relative.

Despite these restrictions, some women have continued to work, particularly in healthcare and education. However, their ability to do so has been hampered by a lack of support from the Taliban, who have shut down the Ministry of Women's Affairs and replaced it with the Ministry of Vice and Virtue.

The situation for women in Afghanistan is uncertain, and their rights and freedoms hang in the balance. While some women have chosen to remain and continue fighting for their rights, others have sought refuge abroad.

Women's political representation in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has made some progress in terms of women's political representation, but there is still a long way to go.

In 2021, women held 27% of seats in parliament, a notable increase from previous years. However, the return of the Taliban to power in 2021 has threatened these gains, with women being shut out of the workforce and girls being denied access to education. Despite these setbacks, Afghan women have continued to speak out and advocate for their rights.

One way to increase women's political representation in Afghanistan is through the implementation of gender quotas. Afghanistan has a quota system in place, reserving 27% of seats in the lower house of the National Assembly for women. However, there are challenges to implementing this system effectively, including negative perceptions of the reserved seats and issues with the electoral process itself.

Socio-economic and cultural changes can also positively impact women's political representation. For example, the growing "voice" and profile of women in the economy, community work, and public engagements can lead to greater inclusion in politics. Additionally, the work of activist women's organizations and a shift towards women taking on economic roles traditionally reserved for men can also contribute to increased political representation.

To further advance women's political representation in Afghanistan, efforts should focus on increasing women's leadership roles and supporting women candidates for national and local elections. It is also crucial to address the underlying issues that hinder women's participation, such as traditional values, lack of education, and violence against women.

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