Taliban’s War on Women: Top 5 Restrictions which are Impacting

Women wearing burqas hold signs demonstrating their right to education in Mazar-i-Sharif, on August 12, 2023.

Just two years ago the US and its allies withdrew their troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban soon seized power.

Even though there were brief moments of optimism that the militant organization would be more progressive than in the past, over the past 24 months it has steadily reduced Afghan freedoms, especially for women.

But there are drawbacks to this; you should be aware of them.

Where are women’s rights now?

According to UN Women, the Taliban has imposed more than 50 edicts, orders, and restrictions over the past two years; however, these five are the most severe.

1. Loss of the right to pursue education

Women’s access to higher education has been “suspended” since December 2021.

2. Motion restrictions

Since December 2021, women have been prohibited from flying domestically or internationally alone. They need a male chaperone, obviously.

3. Women’s appearance regulations

Taliban “advice” for Afghan women to cover up in public began in May 2022.

Women’s beauty salons were also outlawed by the Taliban two months later; they were given one month to close.

4. No job for Women- Fired from the work!

Since December 2022, women are not permitted to work for domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations.

They were prohibited from working with UN organizations starting in April 2023.

5. Restrictions on exercise

Since November 2022, women are not allowed to use public restrooms, gyms, sports facilities, or amusement parks.

How has Afghanistan as a whole been impacted by this crackdown on women’s rights?

This is also having an impact on the entire nation of Afghan.

6. Broad disagreement

Afghan Witness documented 95 different women’s protests across the nation between March 1 and June 27 of this year, many of which took place indoors.

A protest was still planned for the second anniversary of the evacuation of Kabul (August 15) in an effort to raise awareness of the ongoing problems there despite the fact that many protesters face increasing repression, abuse, and threats.

Heather Barr, Human Rights Watch’s associate director for women’s rights, told Reuters that “the images of women protesting on the streets have been the single most important factor in compelling the international community to not look away.”

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7. International assistance in doubt

The International Crisis Group, a think tank, stated that the isolation of the unrecognized regime jeopardizes development and humanitarian efforts. It might lead to significant aid cuts.

Another claim made by the think tank for the European Parliament was that international donors have either already reduced their humanitarian aid or are threatening to do so due to the treatment of women.

Afghanistan is dependent on aid, and women may unintentionally suffer the most from any reduction in foreign assistance.

However, the Taliban “appears inflexible, leaving international actors with a dilemma as to how to proceed,” the think tank continued.

8 The economy

Before the Taliban took control, Afghanistan was already degenerating into poverty, but their takeover hastened that process.

According to the UN Development Programme, 85% of Afghans are estimated to be living below the poverty line, making Afghanistan one of the nations with the lowest per capita incomes in the world.

UNDP modeling predicts that if foreign aid drops below 30%, inflation in Afghanistan could reach 10% the following year.

According to Surayo Buzurukova, the UNDP’s deputy resident representative in Afghanistan, there is a direct link between how the Taliban treats women and its financial difficulties.

Without women, we calculated that growth and poverty reduction would not be possible. When we communicate with the de facto authorities, we try to convey that message, she said.

9. Malnutrition

Aside from the fact that the country is dependent on foreign aid, the fact that half of the population lives in extreme poverty, and farmers’ crops are likely to struggle to feed the nation in part as a result of climate change.

Women and girls are especially susceptible to these difficulties.

Global Citizen reported last year that Afghan girls are twice as likely as Afghan boys to go to bed hungry. As a result of families trying to cut down on the number of mouths they had to feed at home, they also made up 88% of child marriages as of August 2022.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 28 million people, or two-thirds of the population, will require humanitarian aid in 2023.

10. Conflict with the global community

According to the Crisis Group, the Taliban leadership is “rumored to be planning even more draconian restrictions in the future.”

Furthermore, the West cannot intervene without starting a new conflict.

 The Taliban will continue to control Afghanistan’s destiny for the foreseeable future, the group claimed.

In an effort to aid the general populace, many nations, including the UK, are still debating whether to establish diplomatic ties with the Taliban.