- Five years on from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, women and girls have told the BBC their lives are unrecognisable under the rule of the regime.
- The hard-line Islamist group has been eroding the rights of the 22 million women in the country since it re-gained control in 2021.
- Women in Afghanistan face severe economic and educational restrictions: only 7% of women are employed, and a Unicef report states that around 2.6 million girls are unable to attend school beyond Grade 6.
- The Taliban has resumed public corporal punishments, with official records saying hundreds of people have been flogged since 2021.
- Women like Noori and Asma find ways to resist and hope, with Noori running her own company employing 10 women and Asma expressing her determination to become a doctor.
- Afghanistan has one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates - rules restricting treatment by male doctors mean many women and girls are unable to access healthcare.
- Women like Shakiba and Zuhal have seen their dreams and careers shattered, with Shakiba recalling that "15 August, when the government fell, was the worst and most painful day of my life."
Five years after the Taliban's return to power, Afghan women face unprecedented challenges. With only 7% of women employed and 2.6 million girls barred from education beyond Grade 6, their lives have become unrecognizable. The Taliban has systematically eroded the rights of 22 million women since 2021.34
Women report severe restrictions, including bans on education for girls over 12 and travel without a male chaperone. Afghanistan is the only country globally where girls are officially denied secondary education. Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi claims that three million girls are still attending schools and madrassas, but many women feel their dreams are crushed.
Shakiba, a young woman who managed to complete her secondary education online, expressed her despair, stating, “15 August, when the government fell, was the worst and most painful day of my life.” The harsh reality includes corporal punishments, with reports of women being whipped for minor infractions. Shaima5910
Healthcare access is severely restricted, contributing to one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. Midwife Marzia recounted a tragic incident where a mother died due to lack of access to female medical care. “This is a matter of life and death,” she said.8
Despite the grim circumstances, some women are determined to create change. One woman stated, “I want them to become independent, strong, and successful women like me.” They continue to hope for a better future, urging the world to “speak up for Afghan women, support their right to education and work.”
“The Taliban's foreign minister claims three million girls attend schools and madrassas, but a Unicef report says 2.6 million are shut out beyond Grade 6. Women like Shaima, whipped 50 times, and Manizha, lashed 39 times, face public corporal punishment.”
