Afghanistan Womens Rights

UN report underscores the Taliban’s growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

As the two-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover approaches, the UN released a report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. The report highlights increased restrictions on the freedom of Afghan women and girls. The Taliban has also firmly enforced limitations on women’s freedom of movement and employment. Despite promises of being more moderate than […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

The Taliban in Afghanistan seeks instructors from Pakistan for Afghan youth but denies local teachers job opportunities.

Taliban officials in Kabul have asked Pakistan to send teachers to Afghanistan, meanwhile firing thousands of Afghan professionals and staff members at academic institutions across the country.  The Taliban Minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammed Nadeem, announced calls to Pakistan to send teachers to Afghanistan. Nadeem requested a meeting with Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan, Obaid […]

Afghanistan Uncategorized Womens Rights

The Taliban shut down teacher training centers, leaving thousands out of jobs. The majority of the student were women. 

The Taliban announced it will shut down teacher training centers throughout the country, leaving 4,000 Afghan professionals running the centers without jobs. Historically, a majority of trainees and aspiring teachers at teacher training centers were women until the Taliban took control of the government. Many of them have been subjected to a ban by the […]

Afghanistan Health Womens Rights

With increasing Taliban restrictions against Afghan women, the mental health crisis worsens. “I feel like an empty shell of a human being.” 

For nearly two years, Afghan women find themselves at the forefront of a mental health crisis over the bleak outlook for their future and the future of their country. Afghan women and girls in Afghanistan are suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, as a direct result of being forced into isolation by the Taliban.  […]

Afghanistan Global

Afghanistan’s neighbors express terrorism concerns; Putin proposes a counter-terrorism center

During the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, Russian President Putin called for establishing a regional counter-terrorism center to respond to threats in and around the region. Member states emphasized that terrorist groups continue to find safe havens in Afghanistan and that the situation remains volatile.  While member states prioritize combating terrorism, there is a lack […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Afghan women barred from beauty salons in latest Taliban edict: “Don’t we have the right to work or live?”

The Taliban has decided in their latest announcement to outlaw women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan. This follows restrictions on many rights and freedoms for Afghan women in education, employment and public spaces.  The order came from Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada and was publicly declared by the Virtue and Vice Ministry. There was no reason […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

Facing Restrictions on Freedom and Rights, Afghanistan Ranks as the Unhappiest Country in the World

Afghanistan ranks as the unhappiest country in the world another year in a row, in the latest annual Gallup World Happiness Report. The report specifically noted that life for people in Afghanistan one year after the Taliban rose to power has declined. Gallup surveyed adults in 142 countries and areas in 2022 about different negative […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Amid the health and economic crisis in Afghanistan, the Taliban refuses to help. Instead, blames the US and others.

Eid al-Adha is usually a time of celebration for Muslims around the world. In Afghanistan, however, people are struggling to afford basic necessities due to the intense economic crisis. After decades of conflict, natural disasters, and other economic challenges, poverty runs rampant throughout the country. As a result, many Afghans are struggling to find jobs […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Afghan men demand the right of women to pursue higher education. They say, “we need female and male doctors.”

At a graduation ceremony, 146 graduates from Paktia University Medical School walked the stage. There was not a single female graduate among them. Graduates of the medical school used this day as a moment to call for the Taliban to open up schools and universities for girls immediately, asserting that “girls also have the right […]

Afghanistan Global

The Taliban Claims that Women Have a “Comfortable and Prosperous Life” in Afghanistan. Its Actions Say Otherwise. 

A recent message from the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, claimed that women in Afghanistan are leading “comfortable and prosperous” lives as a result of Taliban policies. Made public just prior to the upcoming Eid Al-Adha, one of the major Muslim holidays, the message states that necessary steps have been taken “for the […]

Afghanistan Global

Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries Express Concerns over the Taliban’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts, but the Taliban Dismisses Them

During the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, countries neighboring Afghanistan exhibited a lack of unity and presented diverse views and approaches addressing terrorism concerns from Afghanistan. Tajikistan expressed specific concerns over “concentrated terror groups in Afghanistan,” while China has a different approach to staying engaged with the Taliban. The envoy from Tajikistan listed 6 […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

The Taliban “Suggests” the UN replace its national Afghan women staff with men. The UN says it is “steadfast” not to replace Afghan women with men. 

In a recent meeting, the UN Envoy for Afghanistan told the UN Security Council that the Taliban, “act against the key values expressed in the United Nations Charter.” Roza Otunbayeva stated that while the Taliban wants to be recognized by the UN and its 192 member nations, the group continues to imposes restrictions against the […]

Afghanistan Courts Womens Rights

Afghan lawyers and judges are being persecuted by the Taliban. It threatens Afghan women, the justice system, and the rule of law.

The dangers facing Afghanistan’s judicial system began immediately after the Taliban takeover of the government in Afghanistan and has only been intensifying in the past nearly two years.  In recent days, the threats and the persecution of the former judicial system employees have intensified even further, raising alarm among human rights organizations. The Taliban’s blatant […]

Afghanistan Global Immigration

Afghan Refugee: “Our lives in Pakistan are no lives at all” On World Refugee Day, Recognize the Struggles of Afghan Refugees.

Earlier today, Amnesty International released a statement for World Refugee Day imploring the Pakistani government to “stop harassing and arbitrarily arresting Afghans seeking refuge.” Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, many Afghans have fled to the bordering countries of Pakistan and Iran, becoming refugees. While Amnesty International’s statement focuses on […]

Afghanistan Education Global

What Does the Future Hold for Education in Afghanistan? The Taliban Takes Control of All Education Programs. 

In a new development, international education programs in Afghanistan will hand control over to local groups, under the control of the Taliban and its de facto Ministry of Education. NGOs have been crucial in providing support to Afghan children, especially girls by means of food, education and healthcare services after the takeover of the government […]

Afghanistan Global

Silenced Resilience: Afghan Women Entrepreneurs Navigating Taliban Restrictions

Afghan women business owners and entrepreneurs have faced significant challenges in sustaining their businesses under the Taliban regime since August 2021. New edicts and decrees have severely restricted Afghan women’s access to public spaces and foreign markets, making it increasingly difficult for women to showcase and sell their crafts. In December 2022, the Taliban issued […]

Afghanistan Global

Taliban’s Rule in Afghanistan Sets Dangerous Precedent for Global Peace 

In a recent statement, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated the U.S. position on the Taliban, emphasizing the focus on US “national security interests in preventing a resurgence of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, and if necessary, taking action to deal with it.”  According to a recent report of the United Nations Security Council, however, the […]

Afghanistan Global

Norway Invites Taliban Officials to the Oslo Forum – A Growing Normalization of the Taliban Means Growing Danger for Afghan Women

At the invitation of the Norwegian government, a delegation of three officials from the civil service of the Taliban government are currently in Norway, attending the Oslo Forum. The goal of the meeting, set to take place over three days, is to discuss the major challenges facing Afghanistan with “representatives from other countries and Afghan […]