Today: 1 June 2025
18 January 2022
2 mins read

Afghan women: Prisoners without bars

Many had been the sole or primary wage earner for their family, but most lost their employment due to Taliban policies restricting women’s access to work…writes Sanjeev Sharma

he Taliban rule has had a devastating impact on Afghan women and girls, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Human Rights Institute at San Jose State University (SJSU).

The HRW and the SJSU jointly looked at the conditions for women in Ghazni province following the taliban takeover since last August.

The Taliban have banned women and girls from secondary and higher education, and altered curricula to focus more on religious studies. They dictate what women must wear, how they should travel, workplace segregation by sex, and even what kind of cell phones women should have.

They enforce these rules through intimidation and inspections.

The Taliban have imposed rights-violating policies that have created huge barriers to women’s and girls’ health and education, curtailed freedom of movement, expression, and association, and deprived many of earned income.

“Afghan women and girls are facing both the collapse of their rights and dreams and risks to their basic survival,” said Halima Kazem-Stojanovic, a core faculty member of SJSU’s Human Rights Institute and a scholar on Afghanistan.

“They are caught between Taliban abuses and actions by the international community that are pushing Afghans further into desperation every day.”

The HRW and SJSU remotely interviewed 10 women currently or recently in Ghazni province, including those who had worked in education, healthcare, social services, and business, and former students.

They described spiraling prices for food staples, transportation, and schoolbooks, coupled with an abrupt and often total income loss.

Many had been the sole or primary wage earner for their family, but most lost their employment due to Taliban policies restricting women’s access to work.

Only those working in primary education or health care were still able to work, and most were not being paid due to the financial crisis.

“The future looks dark,” said one woman who had worked in the government.

“I had many dreams, wanted to continue studying and working. I was thinking of doing my master’s. At the moment, they (the Taliban) don’t even allow girls to finish high school.”

The women said they had acute feelings of insecurity because the Taliban have dismantled the formal police force and the Women’s Affairs Ministry, are extorting money and food from communities, and are targeting for intimidation women they see as enemies, such as those who worked for foreign organisations and the previous Afghan government.

Most interviewees cited serious mental health consequences since the Taliban takeover, including fear, anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, and a deep sense of loss and helplessness.

“The crisis for women and girls in Afghanistan is escalating with no end in sight,” said Heather Barr, associate women’s rights director at the HRW.

“Taliban policies have rapidly turned many women and girls into virtual prisoners in their homes, depriving the country of one of its most precious resources, the skills and talents of the female half of the population.”

ALSO READ: ‘Taliban aiming to wipeout women from public life’

Previous Story

Beijing may use Gwadar port as military base

Next Story

EC allows persons deployed in essential services to cast postal ballot

Latest from -Top News

UAE aid for Gaza in global focus

Titled Hope Remains, the documentary brings to light the UAE’s leading role in providing vital aid and support to the people of Gaza. The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council has released a

Syria, Israel begin quiet talks

The announcement came just hours after Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out new airstrikes in Syria’s coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, hitting a range of military targets. Syria has confirmed the commencement

Gaza truce deal hits new snag

US says Hamas’ reply to the ceasefire plan was “totally unacceptable” and accused the Palestinian group of dragging the negotiations backward. The latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Gaza has hit

IAEA flags Iran enrichment spike

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in two separate but related reports, said Iran has boosted its uranium stockpile enriched up to 60% purity by nearly 50% since February. Iran has vehemently

World needs Dubai’s ambition: Morgan

Piers Morgan has hailed Dubai’s transformation as an example of what visionary leadership can achieve. British broadcaster Piers Morgan has praised the extraordinary ambition and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Devastating human rights situation in Afghanistan exposed

The situation was further worsened by a suicide attack at

23 Million Afghans Received Food Aid Last Year

A few months back, the organisation said that an estimated