2024 Gender Report - UN Women's Head in Afghanistan | United Nations

Summary

In this powerful briefing, Allison Deidan, head of the UN Women’s Afghanistan office, sheds light on the harsh realities facing Afghan women three years after the Taliban's return to power. She discusses the systematic erasure of women from public life, the devastating impact on their rights, mental health, and decision-making, and the long-term consequences for Afghan society. Deidan urges international support, advocating for sustainable investment in women's organizations, leadership, and education. Despite the grim situation, Afghan women continue to resist and empower one another, and Deidan calls on the global community to stand in solidarity with them.

Takeaways

• 😀 3 years after the Taliban's takeover, Afghan women continue to face severe restrictions on their rights, including political, educational, and social exclusion.
• 😀 Women in Afghanistan are completely erased from leadership roles, with no women holding political influence at any level of governance.
• 😀 The Taliban's policies force women into roles that mainly involve monitoring the compliance of other women with discriminatory decrees.
• 😀 A staggering 98% of Afghan women report having limited or no influence in community decision-making, with a 60% drop in women's influence at the household level in the past year.
• 😀 The mental health crisis among Afghan women is escalating, with 68% reporting bad or very bad mental health and 8% knowing women who have attempted suicide.
• 😀 The exclusion of girls from education and women from universities will have long-term negative effects on Afghanistan’s economy and social structures, with projections showing a $9.6 billion loss in GDP by 2066.
• 😀 Afghan women and girls face a grave future, with an increase in early childbearing by 45% and maternal mortality by up to 50% by 2026 due to the current restrictions.
• 😀 The world must continue to invest in Afghan women and girls as a strategy to undermine the Taliban's oppressive regime and empower the most marginalized group in Afghanistan.
• 😀 Key strategies for supporting Afghan women include long-term funding for women’s organizations, programs focused on women’s empowerment and leadership, and facilitating direct engagement with Afghan women to understand their priorities.
• 😀 Global solidarity is critical in the fight for Afghan women's rights, as the Taliban's actions serve as a warning to other countries about how quickly gender equality can be rolled back.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Allison Deidan's briefing on Afghanistan?

The main focus of Allison Deidan's briefing is the critical situation of women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. She highlights the systemic erasure of women from public life, the impact of restrictive policies on their rights, and the escalating mental health crisis among Afghan women.

How has the Taliban’s rule affected women's participation in leadership roles in Afghanistan?

Under the Taliban, no woman holds a leadership position with influence at the national or provincial level in Afghanistan. Women's roles, when included in the Taliban structures, are mostly limited to monitoring the compliance of other women with discriminatory decrees, effectively erasing them from political and public life.

What is the impact of the Taliban's policies on women’s decision-making power in both public and private spheres?

The Taliban’s policies have severely restricted women’s decision-making power. Data shows that 98% of women report having little to no influence over decisions at the community level, and their influence at the household level has dropped by nearly 60% over the past year, reflecting a broader trend of diminished autonomy.

How have the restrictions on women's rights affected their mental health?

The restrictions have led to a worsening mental health crisis among Afghan women. 68% of women surveyed reported poor mental health, and 8% knew at least one woman or girl who had attempted suicide. This reflects the deep psychological toll of the ongoing oppression.

What are the long-term consequences of the Taliban's education bans on Afghan women and girls?

The Taliban’s bans on education for girls and young women are expected to have severe long-term effects. By 2026, the bans could contribute to a 45% increase in early childbearing and a 50% rise in maternal mortality. The loss of education also means Afghanistan's economy could lose $9.6 billion in GDP by 2066.

What strategies does Allison Deidan suggest to support Afghan women and girls?

Allison Deidan advocates for three main strategies: long-term funding for women’s organizations to ensure sustainable support, creating programs that empower women and counter their erasure from public life, and facilitating platforms where Afghan women can directly share their priorities and recommendations.

How can international actors help Afghan women in light of the Taliban’s restrictions?

International actors can support Afghan women by investing in women’s organizations, facilitating access to education and entrepreneurship opportunities, and ensuring women’s participation in global decision-making forums. Continued global solidarity and advocacy are critical for pressuring the Taliban and supporting women’s rights in Afghanistan.

What role do Afghan women themselves play in resisting the Taliban’s oppression?

Despite the severe restrictions, Afghan women are finding ways to resist the oppression. They are running businesses, organizing women's organizations, delivering services, and protesting both online and offline. Their resilience remains a key element in the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan.

Why does Allison Deidan emphasize the importance of investing in Afghan women and girls?

Deidan emphasizes the importance of investing in Afghan women and girls because empowering them directly challenges the Taliban’s oppressive vision for society. Supporting women’s autonomy is one of the most effective ways to undermine the Taliban's efforts to control and oppress half of the population.

What is the significance of the Taliban's educational policies in terms of global implications for women's rights?

The Taliban’s educational policies are significant not only for Afghanistan but also globally. They serve as a stark reminder of how quickly gender equality can be rolled back and the importance of safeguarding women's rights worldwide. The situation in Afghanistan is a warning to the international community about the fragility of gender equality and women’s rights.