Five years after the Taliban takeover, women and girls in Afghanistan have been systematically stripped of their rights, according to UN agencies. De facto authorities have issued more than 100 decrees curbing education, work, and freedom of movement—restrictions now compounded by deep cuts to aid on the ground.

As of 2026, an estimated 2.4 million girls remain excluded from secondary education. UNESCO noted that Afghanistan is the only country in the world to formally prohibit access to education for girls and women beyond the primary level. This exclusion risks condemning the nation to decades of lost potential and irreversible harm.

Beyond education, the crisis includes increased risks of maternal death, child marriage, and gender-based violence. UN Women stated that half of the women interviewed leave home only once or twice a month due to severe movement restrictions. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters of women-led organizations surveyed in Afghanistan experienced funding cuts in 2025, threatening essential services.