The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face widespread restrictions on their participation in public life under Taliban policies, according to a new report cited by UN News.
The report, published by the UN human rights office, found
that between August 2025 and January 2026, girls remained barred from education
beyond sixth grade, while women were excluded from medical graduation exams for
the second consecutive year.
It also documented that women not complying with dress
requirements were removed from public transport and denied access to markets
and services. Taliban security forces were reported to have prevented Afghan
women, including UN staff and visitors, from entering UN premises across the
country.
According to the report, books authored by women were
removed from bookstores and libraries in some provinces, regardless of their
content or origin.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the
measures effectively amount to the exclusion of women and girls from public
life, warning that the country’s future depends on their participation.
The report also highlighted broader human rights concerns,
including public executions and corporal punishment, as well as restrictions on
journalists and media workers, who continue to face arrests and detention over
their reporting.
From Afghanistan’s perspective, the findings underscore
ongoing concerns about human rights conditions and their impact on social
development and international engagement.
