Latest
Press Release
08 March 2023
THE UN IN AFGHANISTAN CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO DRACONIAN RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN & GIRLS BY THE DE FACTO AUTHORITIES
Learn more
Story
07 March 2023
As Afghan women and girls are erased from society, the UN in Afghanistan stands with them
Learn more
Press Release
22 January 2023
High-level UN delegation led by the Deputy Secretary-General calls on Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban authorities to reverse course on recent decrees limiting women’s and girls’ rights, says Afghans must not be abandoned
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Afghanistan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Afghanistan:
Publication
11 January 2022
Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan 2022
PEOPLE IN NEED
24.4M
PLANNED REACH
22.1M
REQUIREMENTS (US$)
$4.44B
OPERATIONAL PARTNERS
158
Foreword
We go into 2022 with unprecedented levels of need amongst ordinary women, men and children of Afghanistan. 24.4 million people are in humanitarian need – more than half the population. Years of compounded crises and under-investment have resulted in nearly four times the number of people in need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance compared to just three years ago.
The country is currently facing the second drought in four years, the worst of its kind in 27 years. As a result, Afghanistan now has the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world – this is a terrifying 35 per cent increase from the same time last year. More than one in two children under-five is facing acute malnutrition and will be at risk of death if immediate action is not taken. The already over-burdened health system is straining to survive numerous shocks, including due to the continuing impact of COVID-19, spikes in waterborne diseases, frustratingly persistent strains of polio and a sudden collapse in predictable financing that has kept the nationwide health infrastructure afloat. The economic crisis currently facing the country has sent prices skyrocketing, while simultaneously diminishing people’s purchasing power. People are increasingly desparate, have exhausted nearly all coping mechanisms and have resorted to taking on unmanageable debt burdens and relying on dangerous coping mechanisms to survive. The situation of women and girls is particularly dire as their rights and opportunities have become increasingly restricted. The burden the people of Afghanistan have been forced to carry is far to heavy to manage alone.
Over the course of a tumultuous and unpredictable year, the humanitarian community has proven its capacity to scale-up to meet new needs, including in response to recurrent natural disasters, escalating conflict, the withdrawal of international forces and the shift in the governance structure. I am proud to say that despite the numerous challenges created by the worsening security environment and increase in overall need, humanitarian organisations have persistently proven their commitment to stay and deliver and increase overall reach. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) remain the backbone of this response and I look forward to further investment in sustaining a vibrant and engaged NGOs and civil society sector in the year to come. In 2022, humanitarian organisations have an ambitious plan to reach 22.1 million people with life-saving multi-sectoral assistance.
In order to do this, the 2022 HRP requires $4.4 billion. People’s survival depends on the 158 dedicated humanitarian organisations operating in Afghanistan receiving sufficient financial resources to deliver. The consequences of late or inadequate funding are very real. Years of funding shortfalls have increasingly required humanitarians to try to do more with less and the limited rollout of complementary development assistance and sudden cessation of predictable development assistance have all been factors in the worsening outlook for 2022.
We have made historic strides in working to develop cross-sector approaches with development actors in 2021 based on both life-saving activities and support for services that address basic human needs. Jointly we have developed a common snapshot of overlapping needs and activities that recognises the multidimensional impact of the current crisis. I look forward to the implementation of this innovative and crucial cross-pillar approach in 2022.
The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and InterCluster Coordination Teams (ICCT) are committed to applying a strong gender and protection lens to their work in 2022 acknowledging the disproportionate impacts of the current crisis on women, children and people with disability. Given the scale of vulnerability in Afghanistan, this effort will be guided by a range of both new and well-established technical working groups focused on gender, disability inclusion, genderbased violence (GBV), child protection, accountability to affected people (AAP) and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). The Humanitarian Country Team will also continue to be led by advice from Afghans themselves, a crucial function that will be supported by dedicated local experts, such as the Afghan Women’s Advisory Group. Sustained, principled humanitarian access to people in need has expanded significantly over the last years, and will continue to be built upon in 2022, and our negotiations will be guided by the Joint Operating Principles (JOPS) and with support from the Humanitarian Access Group.
The humanitarian community stands beside the people of Afghanistan, during what is undoubtedly one of the country’s most difficult periods. Given the sheer scale of needs, we are all called upon to remain in solidarity with ordinary Afghans and to expand efforts to reach more people with the life-saving assistance they urgently need to survive. We must act collectively and creatively in this pivotal moment to reduce suffering, rebuild lives and livelihoods and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable are upheld. I urge donors to stay engaged in the wellbeing of the people of Afghanistan, and to give early and generously to humanitarian organisations. The people of Afghanistan cannot wait and the cost of inaction is simply far too high
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov Afghanistan Humanitarian Coordinator
1 of 5
Publication
24 October 2022
BRIEF NO. 1: MEDIA RESTRICTIONS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN AFGHANISTAN
SUMMARY
After nearly 20 years of international investment and successful efforts to build a diverse media landscape and strengthen journalism standards, the Afghan media sector has fundamentally changed for the worse since the Taliban (also referred herein to as the de facto authorities) takeover on 15 August 2021.
Before mid-August 2021, dedicated initiatives and investment focused on increasing the number of women working in the media across a diversity of roles, training and equipping them with valuable skills and expertise, as well as a substantive focus on women’s rights and gender equality in the media content, including on how gender inequality is a driver of conflict.
The Taliban has sought to bring the Afghan media under its control, prohibiting broadcasts and publications that criticize Taliban rule and/or are incompatible with the group’s interpretation of Islamic and Afghan values.
There is no universal experience across the changed media environment, as the level of subnational variation is notable. The position of individual de facto leaders on media freedom varies according to their personal viewpoints and relationship to the media in the past, and their perception of the value of media to extend the credibility and authority of the Taliban in the eyes of the target audience.
Despite subnational variations, nationwide trends are becoming increasingly discernible, clear and solidified. Although in some cases the level of discretion may be higher, rules and practices are consistent and congruent – continuous harassment, attacks, and detention of journalists, the requirement for women journalists to cover their face when on air, and various tactics which combined lead to self-censorship and exclusion of women from the media. This indicates a systematic and coherent effort to muzzle the media and exclude women – their faces, perspectives, and experiences – from public spaces.
Afghans across the country have grown to rely on television, radio, and other forms of media for information on a wide range of concerns. For some Afghans, including those now outside the country, social media – especially Facebook – has become an alternative media platform. However, without reliable, diverse, and independent media, all Afghans are denied access to information and plurality of opinions and ideas.
1 of 5
Story
19 April 2021
“CLIMATE ACTION FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET: THE TIME IS NOW”
By António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
The science is irrefutable and globally agreed: to stop the climate crisis from becoming a permanent catastrophe, we must limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To do this, we must get to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by mid-century. Countries making up about two-thirds of the global economy have committed to do so. This is encouraging, but we urgently need every country, city, business, and financial institution to join this coalition and adopt concrete plans for transitioning to net zero.
Even more urgent is for governments to match this long-term ambition with concrete actions now, as trillions of dollars are mobilized to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Revitalizing economies is our chance to re-engineer our future.
The world has a strong framework for action: the Paris Agreement, in which all countries committed to set their own national climate action plans and strengthen them every five years. Over five years later, and with damning proof that if we don’t act we will destroy our planet, it is time for decisive and effective action as the United Nations convenes all countries in Glasgow in November for COP26.
The new national plans must cut global greenhouse gas pollution by at least 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. Many have been presented already and set out clearer policies to adapt to the impacts of climate change and boost access to renewable energy. But so far, those plans achieve less than a 1 percent cut in emissions. This is a true red alert for people and the planet.
In the months ahead, beginning with the upcoming Leaders Summit hosted by the United States, governments must dramatically step up their ambitions – particularly the biggest-emitting countries that have caused the vast bulk of the crisis. Phasing out coal from the electricity sector is the single most important step to get in line with the 1.5-degree goal. Immediate action to remove the dirtiest, most polluting fossil fuel from power sectors offers our world a fighting chance.
Global coal use in electricity generation must fall by 80 percent below 2010 levels by 2030. This means that developed economies must commit to phase out coal by 2030; other countries must do this by 2040. There is simply no reason for any new coal plants to be built anywhere. One third of the global coal fleet is already more costly to operate than building new renewables and storage. COP26 must signal an end to coal.
As the world moves toward clean air and renewable energy, it is essential that we ensure a just transition. Workers in impacted industries and the informal sector must be supported as they move jobs or reskill. We must also unleash the vast power of women and girls to drive transformation, including as equal participants in governance and decision-making.
The countries that contributed least to climate change are suffering many of the worst impacts. Many small island nations will simply cease to exist if we don’t step up the response. The developed countries must deliver on their commitments to provide and mobilize $100 billion annually by:
doubling current levels of climate finance;
devoting half of all climate finance to adaptation;
stopping the international funding of coal; and
shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The G7 Summit in June offers the opportunity for the world’s wealthiest countries to step up and provide the necessary financial commitments that will ensure the success of COP26.
While governments must lead, decision-makers everywhere have a vital role to play. I ask all multilateral and national development banks, by COP26, to have clear policies in place to fund the COVID recovery and the transition to resilient economies in developing countries, taking into account crippling debt levels and huge pressures on national budgets. Many local governments and private businesses have committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and have engaged in significant reviews of their business models. I urge all to set ambitious targets and policies.
I encourage young people everywhere to continue to raise their voices for action to address climate change, protect biodiversity, stop humanity’s war on nature and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Time is running out, and there is much hard work ahead, but this no time to raise the white flag. The United Nations will keep flying our blue flag of solidarity and hope. This Earth Day and over the crucial months ahead, I urge all nations and all people to rise together to this moment.
1 of 5
Publication
09 January 2022
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Needs Overview (2022)
Context, Shocks/Events, and Impact of the Crisis
Following 40 years of war and an already dire situation of increasing hunger, economic decline, price rises in food and other essential needs, and rising poverty over the past several years, over 2021 the people of Afghanistan faced intensified conflict, the withdrawal of international forces and then the takeover of the country by the Taliban in August.
The resulting political, social and economic shocks have reverberated across the country with a massive deterioration of the humanitarian and protection situation in the 4th quarter of 2021 and the outlook for 2022 remaining profoundly uncertain.
Afghanistan’s population is estimated to be 41.7m in 2021, of whom 51 per cent are men and 49 per cent are women. A staggering 47 per cent of the population are under 15 years old, giving Afghanistan one of the highest youth populations in the world. With a projected population growth rate of 2.3 per cent per annum, one of the steepest in the region, the country’s financially-dependent youth population is set to grow even further.
Population growth, internal displacement, higher-than- usual rates of cross-border return are contributing to increased strain on limited resources, livelihood opportunities and basic services, as well as an increase in protection risks especially for most at risk groups. It is estimated that there are more than 2.6 million Afghan refugees worldwide and more than 5.5 million people displaced by conflict inside the country.
Scope of Analysis
This Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) looks at likely evolution of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan throughout 2022 with an inter-sectoral approach to the analysis that recognises the multi-dimensional nature of people’s needs across sectors. The situation beyond 2022 remains extremely uncertain with a wide- range of risks that could upset planning assumptions. These risks and potential implications to 2021 planning are outlined in the risks section of this analysis (pg 49). The political takeover by the Taliban and the possible range of geo-political responses, as well as transformed security dynamics have made much previous analysis used to anticipate needs (trends in the “fighting season”) of questionable utility. Thus, forward projections beyond 2022 would be unreliable and so have not been included in this analysis.
All 2022 calculations are based on the joint planning assumptions that are outlined in the risk sections in regard to the evolution of the political and security situation, with different seasonal influences on needs throughout the year including the onset of winter, rainfall patterns, agricultural planting and harvest seasons, and others (see pg. 51 for seasonal influences on needs). Greater emphasis has been placed on the drought impact and economic fallout from the crisis in the analysis, under the assumption that large-scale conflict is likely to be a relatively smaller factor in driving needs then in previous years. This analysis will be updated on a rolling basis as conditions change.
Population Groups
Because of the multi-dimensional threat facing Afghanistan of economic collapse, political instability, conflict and climate, needs are deep and widespread across the country, affecting all provinces. While the broader categories of the populations of concern for 2022 will remain similar to 2021, new sub-groups of Afghanistan’s rural and urban communities whose vulnerabilities have been aggravated by the conflict, drought and economic shocks and years of lack of recovery, have been included.
Internally Displaced People (only includes newly displaced due to all causes in 2022)
Shock-Affected Non-Displaced People (people newly affected by floods and other natural disasters in 2022)
Vulnerable People with Humanitarian Needs (including protracted IDPs and those displaced before 2022, vulnerable protracted cross border returnees, IDP returnees, people affected by economic shock and income loss)
Cross-Border Returnees (newly returned in 2022)
Refuges and Asylum Seekers
This HNO applies protection, gender, age, disability, mental health and AAP lenses to its analysis with disaggregated data used throughout, where available.
Humanitarian Conditions, Severity and People in Need
The deteriorating context and an increase in population estimates (now 41.7 million people) have combined to leave a projected 24.4 million people in humanitarian need in 2022, up from 18.4 million people at the start of 202. These humanitarian needs estimates were calculated using the Joint Inter-sectoral Analysis Framework or JIAF approach, which looks holistically at the needs facing people in Afghanistan and measures the severity of these needs using a series of inter-sectoral indicators. The JIAF inter-sectoral analysis of needs revealed that there are needs in every province of the country. With extreme need in 29 out of 34 provinces and the rest in severe need, with almost all population groups of concern present in every province (except refugees who are centred in Khost and Paktika).
The analysis shows that the intensification of the conflict through August 2021, a consecutive year of drought, other natural disasters, Covid-19 and the broad-based economic crisis following the collapse of the Government has tipped many people from extreme poverty into outright catastrophe. With coping mechanisms and safety nets largely exhausted – as previous HNOs have warned --the collapse of basic services and development programming since August has pushed a large number of people reliant on development assistance into crisis. An updated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that in the first quarter of 2022, a staggering 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the population, are expected to be in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC 3 and 4). 8.7 million people projected to be in IPC 4 – the highest number in the world. The fundamental drivers of food insecurity in Afghanistan include widespread poverty and economic fragility, extreme weather and climatic shocks, land degradation, and decades of conflict that have limited the spread of essential public services and safety nets.
According to the Global Citizen report on the Worst Countries for Gender Equality, Afghanistan is the worst place to be a woman. Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and risks as gender inequality is interwoven with the conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. There are grave concerns about the roll-back on women’s rights and restrictions on their participation in life and society, with impositions introduced on education, right to work and freedom of movement of girls and women.
Even with 55% of the country already in humanitarian need, the possibility of a further deterioration is very real. The majority of the remainder of the country requires the continuation and restoration of services addressing basic human needs to prevent them from slipping into humanitarian crisis.
1 of 5
Story
13 December 2021
One shining light: how medical supplies airlifted to Afghanistan have been used to save lives
In desperation, Rana, the junior wife in their household of 12, brought Amina to the National Infectious Diseases hospital hoping for some help.
And help there was. As soon as Amina arrived, she was assessed as severely dehydrated, and treatment began. “This is the one shining light in a very dark time” said Rana as she stood by Amina’s bedside.
Although none of the staff have been paid for 3 months, the doctors and nurses have been coming every day, simply because, as the hospital director, Dr Asadullah Esmat, said ‘This is our job. We are trained for that. Our staff say to us, ‘No problem, I am working for the people of Afghanistan’
In early September, just a few weeks after the change in political regime, people began arriving at the hospital with acute watery diarrhoea. Numbers climbed quickly, peaking at over 100 people per day. Many people had delayed seeking care, not certain if help would still be available, and arrived severely dehydrated, needing urgent rehydration.
The hospital was already crowded with people needing advanced care for the many infectious diseases challenging the people of Afghanistan – meningitis, tuberculosis, HIV, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, COVID-19 to name a few. But it was essential to isolate and treat everyone who had acute watery diarrhoea to save lives.
“We emptied out several wards, discharging those patients who were well enough, putting others in other parts of the hospital, even the corridors. We needed one female and one male isolation ward to comply with the new rules.” said Dr Esmat.
WHO was able to supply critical protective equipment for health workers, such as gloves, masks and lifesaving treatment such as intravenous rehydration fluids. Since mid-August, donors have responded to WHO appeals for help and over 240 metric tonnes of medical supplies to help with all manner of health challenges, including acute watery diarrhoea have been airlifted to Afghanistan via 14 flights. Supplies are still desperately needed but more flights are coming.
The supplies and the commitment of the health workers have paid off in lives saved. “Overall, we treated around 3000 patients and not one of them died. Thanks to the supplies and support we received from WHO, who came and helped in the earliest stage of the outbreak, we were able to provide the best care possible, even in these difficult circumstances,” said Professor Mohammad Murad Mamozai, the hospital’s medical director.
The numbers of acute watery diarrhoea cases appear to be declining; fewer people are coming to hospital needing treatment for this, and numbers elsewhere are falling. But the outbreak did spread to 5 provinces and more than 3339 people have been infected. Work to identify every case, ensure water and sanitation measures are taken, such as chlorination of water sources, needs to be done to prevent further infection.
All this depends on regular medical supplies coming into the country via WHO and other UN agencies. The other critical factor is the work being done by skilled and committed Afghan professionals, who are still turning up to work, despite still waiting to be paid.
As Leda, a 26-year-old nurse working in the infectious disease hospital explained when asked how she stays motivated, “I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was a little girl. Yes, we don’t have a salary, but I love what I do.“
1 of 5
Story
07 March 2023
As Afghan women and girls are erased from society, the UN in Afghanistan stands with them
IOM
“Women are half of a country, and we were not born to stay at home, cook or give birth. Let us work, let us learn, let us live!”
“To all women, remember: the tree that survives the rumble will become the strongest tree in the ground.”
I am one of the women aid workers in Afghanistan and, like all the other women staff, this ban (editorial note: the ban on women working in non-governmental organizations) really had an impact on my life. It causes me a lot of psychological pressure. I didn’t even know how to deal with it. It’s a nightmare.
It is so unfair to be deprived of your rights because of your gender. Working is not only my dream or a human right, it is also the way I support my family.
Even before the ban, as a woman employee, I faced many challenges. The security situation in the country has always been bad. It's not just the challenges of movement or the problems with the hijab, overall, it was already a struggle.
Earlier last year there was a shooting in our province, we were in the field and while community members were fighting with each other - one of them started shouting next to us: ‘Where are the women staff? Tell me! I will kill them! Where are they?’ We were petrified.
Since the ban, we are stopped at checkpoints even more than before, and I fear these checkpoints because when they stop me, even though I have a United Nations Identity Card and a permission letter, they still disrespect us and threaten us.
But now, I'm done complaining. I am angry. Women are half of a country, and we were not born to stay at home, cook or give birth. Let us work, let us learn, let us live!
To all women, remember: the tree that survives the rumble will become the strongest tree in the ground!
IOM
“When I go outside, I'm afraid. I am afraid that they will stop me and beat me.”
The de facto Taliban authorities' decree banning women [from working in non-governmental organisations] has a psychological impact on me. I am afraid. I am afraid that if I am not allowed to work, how will I support my family?
Right now, I am the main breadwinner of my family. We are not in a good economic condition and my job is what gives us a stable livelihood.
Even though I could send my children to school to continue their education, they would have required stationery, school fees, transportation costs, and so on.
This ban made me lose hope in what I envisioned for my children's future.
I don’t have a mahram available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Apart from doing my work, I am living in a society where I must go out and buy our family basic needs, such as food, clothing and so on. When I go outside, I'm afraid. I am afraid that they will stop me and beat me.
On top of that, as a female aid worker, I am worried about being stopped and questioned at the Taliban checkpoints. I feel stressed and anxious every time.
I call on the international community to not abandon Afghan women and girls who are the victims of these bans and discriminatory rules.
Millions of girls are banned from attending schools and universities and working with humanitarian organizations.
I am worried this ban will encourage even more gender-based violence and forced marriage. It will exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition as the lack of female participation in the workforce will mean women and children will never access to these essential services.
The international community must stand for Afghan women's rights and engage in dialogue with the Taliban to reverse these bans so that women and girls can go to work and universities.
This is having a toll on me psychologically. I am worried about my children's future. If the bans continue, I will consider migrating abroad to secure a safe future for my children.
I feel depressed. As an aid worker, I don't feel safe, and I am afraid for my life. I am worried that I might be targeted because of my job.
IOM
Women should not be sentenced to confinement between the four walls of their homes.
The women here are heroes, not just because of their work or their success, but because they are women in Afghanistan, and that will make them heroes for eternity.
Let's all try together to build a bridge of knowledge firmly, so that tomorrow Afghanistan is not source of darkness, ignorance, and illiteracy.
Women's rights are recognized and protected in Islam and by the international community. Women should not be sentenced to confinement between the four walls of their homes.
Afghanistan had a poor record in women's rights, and it became worse after the Taliban takeover. It started with abolishing the Ministry of Women's Affairs, to making it clear that women have nowhere to go to if they encounter any problems.
As an Afghan woman, I am the victim of these bans and discriminatory rules. I fought -despite all the difficulties- to be educated and serve my country. I don't want to believe that all of that will be in vain.
Women are now required to have a mahram whenever they go out. What if there are simply not enough men to accompany each girl or woman in the family? What if they don't have a father? What if their brothers are underage? Where can women -who are in such situations- find a mahram?
Women are now banned from working. They are not allowed to go out on field missions. Women cannot even use the public transport system in a country that is facing extreme poverty. Unfortunately, the men in our families including the father, husband and brothers are not willing to defend our rights. They threaten and oppress us more instead.
There's a lack of women professionals in many sectors, and with these bans, there will be even fewer educated women. There will be no more women who will graduate to become teachers and doctors. This is a painful situation to endure.
This is the greatest persecution of women in the world. The bans will also destroy children's future, and it will result in an ignorant and poor society where early marriage is prevalent and women's rights are not protected. Ignoring women means removing half of the population, which will make the remaining half weak and hopeless.
But people who read books will never be enslaved. Let's all try together to build a bridge of knowledge firmly, so that tomorrow Afghanistan is not source of darkness, ignorance, and illiteracy.
We should never give up. No matter how desperate we are. The women here are heroes, not just because of their work or their success, but because they are women in Afghanistan, and that will make them heroes for eternity.
UNHCR
“I want to serve as a role model and motivate the girls to stay in school.”
I grew up as a refugee in Peshawar. My father was a teacher in Afghanistan and encouraged everyone in the family to study hard. After returning to Afghanistan in 2010, I continued to learn, graduating from university with a degree in computer science. I am passionate about my studies, and I want to teach other girls to learn as well. Now, I teach English and computer science to refugee returnees like me.
I want to serve as a role model and motivate the girls to stay in school. I continued my education [despite] a lot of financial problems and cultural challenges. I feel what other girls at the school feel. I firmly believe that the computer skills and knowledge of English … can help the girls continue their education online, even at home. It will help them to access various education sources on the internet while pursuing their journey of getting educated. It will also help students to do their research and gain more knowledge on topics they are interested in.
My parents couldn’t afford even the basic life essentials, including a further education for me and my siblings. Now we have returned, I am happy. We have a decent home, and I was able to get a higher education back in Afghanistan. Seeing young girls drop out of school or prevented from going to learn due to lack of female teachers makes me feel sad.
The situation may worsen for girls and women and will also lead to early and forced marriages. I don’t receive a teaching salary, but the joy of seeing girls come to school every day is the source of my pride and satisfaction.
UNHCR
“I wanted to be a midwife because I saw many mothers and children died because there was no access to health services and no midwife in our village.”
I wanted to be a midwife because I saw many mothers and children died because there was no access to health services and no midwife in our village.
We live far away from the nearest health center and to get there, it is very difficult. The health district hospital is about 10-20 kilometers from my village, but it is hard to reach. In the winter, access roads are closed because of snow. One winter, I remember, five mothers were supposed to deliver. They were taken to hospital, but four died along the way.
I feel lucky to be able to continue my studies as the health sector is one area where exemptions allow women to continue working. At the same, I am sad that other women like me cannot go to school. It is not logical in the 21st century. If this situation continues, we cannot fill the gaps for a long time. Afghanistan cannot fill the gaps.
I hope this decree will be revoked as soon as possible and that activities for girls can be resumed in our schools. Girls should have access to training at school, at university and work.
Yes, we are lucky to have this class continue, and we will continue to study hard and do our best. But still, we are concerned. What if other restrictions are coming? We don’t have a clear future.
UNOPS
“I will continue to break stereotypes and become a role model for other women in my community.”
When I was a little girl, I was curious, innovative, and eager to bring change to the world. My dream was to use technology and innovations to build a better Afghanistan. And my dream came true as I became a civil engineer.
I am passionate about helping Afghan women, ensuring their access to transportation infrastructure in the rural areas. Seeing a smile on their faces after completion of each project motivates me to work even harder for the development of my country.
Thanks to technology, I can freely talk with engineers, architects, clients, construction contractors and most importantly with the beneficiaries, especially women, using different online and offline networks and channels. Using engineering software has enabled me to design, manage, and define the risk for our projects which benefits millions of Afghan people. I take full advantage of the benefits offered by the digital space for connecting with women and advocating for their inclusion. I am happy to share that the women in Afghanistan are using technology too. Through the digital platform, I can stay connected with the beneficiaries in the field.
Despite all the ups and downs, all the fears and pressures, Afghan women remain resilient and committed to work harder and support each other and their communities. Being a woman engineer in the field is a tough and challenging job. I am determined to do my job to the best of my abilities.
I will continue to break stereotypes and become a role model for other women in my community.
UN Women
“No society can last long without the presence of women.”
Since the day they took power, I have not been allowed to enter my school. They are excluding us from society by not allowing us to work alongside the men. This is my worst memory. All my classmates whom I am still in touch with are in the same situation. All of them are demotivated and depressed. I have lost my self-esteem during this last year. I have noticed that people do not love Afghanistan anymore. Of course, this is our homeland, but when there are no job opportunities and one cannot provide for their family, how can they live here?
The Taliban regime started their stay in power by banning work and education for women – that is what they really are. The women of Afghanistan have not had any social role this last year.
The Taliban do not count on women at all. Although women are half the society, their will is not respected under Taliban rule.
Women’s presence is important for the development of a country, and their absence causes decadence. A society without women is subject to destruction. Afghanistan is also on the verge of destruction in the absence of women. Without women, societies are destroyed. No society can last long without the presence of women.
I am a woman and I feel bad about not being counted on and being neglected. I believe if the situation continues like this, with women being neglected, Afghanistan will collapse. Nevertheless, I still have hope. I still hope the girls’ schools will reopen and we can continue our education. Together we will reconstruct Afghanistan and live happily.
OCHA
“The ban on female aid workers felt like the final nail in our hopes of seeing a change in the Taliban’s attitude towards women.
Each ban is taking away our sense of being equal human beings.”
Growing up as a young girl, especially coming from a minority group, I was determined to work hard and contribute towards the development of my family and community.
I completed my studies and returned home to work in the humanitarian sector, full of hope and enthusiasm to help my country. But with what our country has turned out to be today, all my hopes have been dashed.
Since the Taliban took over in August 2021, we have seen the space, dignity, respect, and opportunities for women shrinking and eroding. The ban on female aid workers felt like the final nail in our hopes of seeing a change in the Taliban’s attitude towards women.
Soon after the Taliban took over, my sister and I were beaten by their security forces in town for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly. From that day, I sensed the worst was coming. Since then, we have witnessed one ban after another. Each ban is taking away our sense of being equal human beings.
Restrictions on women are making life tough for families. They affect men, women, and children, even though women bear the brunt because they are the target.
When I started working, I asked my father to be my mahram [a male family member]. There was no other man in the family to help me. He escorted me to work every day and accompanied me to carry out family and personal errands.
This changed when he fell sick. He cannot go around with me anymore, but the de facto authorities still expect us to comply with the mahram requirement. They beat women for not complying with it.
I feel sad that every time we meet with fellow female aid workers, we spend most of our time crying over the tough conditions we are living under in our own country.
As young professionals, we are supposed to discuss how to improve our country. We now call these meetings ‘crying sessions.’ They help us to de-stress. It is one way we try to find healing, as it seems the Taliban are not willing to listen to us, their people.
We do not see a brighter future if we are not allowed to participate in life and society.
Note: Names, locations, and course of events have been changed in this article to ensure the safety of the Afghan woman featured. The content of the stories does not necessarily represent the views of the United Nations or affiliated organization.
1 of 5
Story
15 August 2022
One year since the Taliban takeover: We can’t turn our backs on Afghanistan’s future
Shortly before the Taliban takeover one year ago, I visited an orphanage in Kunduz, a city in the north of Afghanistan. I was heartbroken when I spoke with a young girl there who had lost her entire family the day before, following intense fighting between the Afghan National Security Forces and the Taliban. Although she was safe from any immediate danger, had access to food, shelter and other life-saving necessities thanks to the support from our UN team on the ground, I knew that her needs and those of other vulnerable children across Afghanistan were far greater, and the problems faced by their communities more complex.
One year on, these challenges have grown exponentially and our efforts to build a stable future for children like the ones I met last year in Kunduz have become more demanding. From hunger to chronic poverty, to increase in negative coping mechanisms, such as child marriage or selling of organs and children, the scale of suffering in Afghanistan continues to rise across many areas since the Taliban advanced on Kabul last summer.
Over half of the country’s population now live below the poverty line. Nearly 23 million people are food insecure, many of them severely so, and more than 2 million children are suffering from malnutrition. In June 2022, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck central region of Afghanistan, killing over 1,000 people and pushing already vulnerable communities to the brink.
I am especially worried about Afghan women and girls, whose lives have changed unrecognizably since the Taliban returned to power last summer. Since 15 August, we have seen a significant rolling back of their economic, political, and social rights and a worrying escalation in restrictive gender policies and behaviors. Without the right to education, work and freedom of movement, women now find themselves increasingly relegated to the margins.
As these developments began to unfold last year, our UN team vowed to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan. Under the auspices of the One UN Transitional Engagement Framework for Afghanistan, the overarching strategic planning document that guides our UN team’s work on the ground, we have been able to save lives whilst sustaining essential services and preserving key community systems. In the first six months of this year alone, we reached 22.9 million with some form of humanitarian assistance – 94 per cent of the overall 24.4 million people in need. Vulnerable households were supported with life-saving and life-sustaining food assistance – from emergency rations, to seasonal support, agricultural supplies and nutritious supplements – to healthcare, emergency shelter and non-food items, WASH and protection assistance.
Yet despite our unprecedented response, the needs across Afghanistan remain vast. Rates of food insecurity, poverty and debt have soared since the Taliban returned to power last summer, even if the roots of these problems existed long before 15 August 2021 following decades of neglect and underdevelopment in key public services and infrastructure.
Without access to these services, including strong healthcare, a functioning banking system and resilient agricultural sector, the lives of ordinary Afghans will continue to hang in the balance. The people of Afghanistan deserve a serious commitment and sustained investment in their future, which is why, one year into the Taliban takeover, we are redoubling our efforts to strengthen the fundamental pillars of Afghan society, starting with its economy.
Guided by the objectives set out in our Transitional Engagement Framework, we will focus on recovering the economy from the bottom up, expanding women’s economic participation and creating more than two million new jobs. With more sustainable sources of income, families will be better equipped to break out of endless cycles of hunger and slowly reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance. The full return of women to work is essential to transforming Afghanistan’s economy, which is why we are working hard to support women-led businesses and expand employment opportunities for women across the country.
Since the majority of people in Afghanistan live in rural areas, we must focus particular attention on sustaining the agricultural economy by strengthening agricultural-food systems and developing stronger links between farmers, food producers and local markets.
Our UN team is already implementing these approaches in rural areas across Afghanistan, including in some of the regions affected by the recent earthquakes. Visiting this area in south-eastern Afghanistan earlier this month, one of the young men I met gave me a handwritten note which listed the immediate asks for his village: clean water, homes, education, health, roads and jobs. The message to the UN was clear: support us with these simple requests now and we can better support ourselves through the uncertainties of the future.
As we move forward, we will continue to work to improve the lives of people in Afghan - including women and girls. When the Taliban returned to power last summer, we rapidly scaled up the provision of essential health, education and protection services for women and girls. We have expanded this support in recent months, opening new women friendly health spaces in Kabul for increased access to psychological support; scaling up mobile health teams to reach more vulnerable women and children affected by the earthquakes and rolling out more training programmes for displaced and returnee women through our empowerment centers.
Whatever uncertainties lie ahead, we will place the needs of women and girls at the center of our recovery efforts and will work every day to ensure that they return to work, go back to school, and are able to resume their right to live free and equal lives.
Thinking back to this day last year, I am proud of the support our UN team has provided the people of Afghanistan, and the efforts we have made to prevent some of the worst-case scenarios that we feared from playing out.
Profoundly moved and motivated by ground realities, I look at the challenges ahead, and reiterate our mission to ensure that every person in Afghanistan, including children like the girl from Kunduz, can plan and have a dignified future, well beyond striving for survival today.
By Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan.
1 of 5
Story
01 June 2022
Uzbekistan steps up to support neighbor Afghanistan at critical humanitarian juncture
In the early 1990s Uzbekistan, the double landlocked country in Central Asia, had just emerged as an independent state from the Soviet Union. With a fragile economy and developing industrial sector, these were challenging times for the newly autonomous country.
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, remembers this period well, having spent the early days of his career working for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Regional Office for Central Asia. In Uzbekistan he witnessed first-hand the challenges in expanding healthcare and other essential services.
"Back in those days the overall developmental context of the country and the challenges experienced were very different from the current level of advancement and development."
Thirty years later, as Dr. Alakbarov returns to the country, Uzbekistan finds itself in a very different position: a key supporter and vital partner in the United Nation’s response to one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies.
Since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021, humanitarian needs across the country have soared. Ninety-five per cent of people do not have enough food to eat. 6.6 million people are at risk of famine and one million children are severely malnourished.
As more and more Afghans are forced to rely on humanitarian assistance in order to survive, UN Afghanistan, led by Dr. Alakbarov and his team, have been working with UN agencies to scale up its response. Regional cooperation is key Regional cooperation has been key to enabling the UN’s successful response in Afghanistan, as Dr. Alakbarov learnt during a recent joint mission to Termez in southern Uzbekistan with the Resident Coordinator of Uzbekistan, Ms. Roli Asthana and country representatives from UNICEF and UNHCR.
Termez is a relatively small city of just over 180, 000 people, but it is playing an outsized role in supporting the UN’s emergency operations across the border in Afghanistan. Termez Regional Humanitarian Logistics Hub is situated 2 km from the border and was the first stop of the Resident Coordinators’ joint visit.
The center was set up in October 2021 by UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - with strong support from the Government of Uzbekistan. Its proximity to the border means supplies can be moved quickly and easily to where they are needed most. UNHCR Representative for Afghanistan Leonard Zulu explained to the Resident Coordinators’ delegation how the hub’s location in Termez was vital to enabling a quick and flexible humanitarian response. "Our humanitarian assistance has been brought closer to the Afghanistan operations so that if we need that across the border we can move it as quickly as possible.
So far we have moved 1000 tons from here mainly to Afghanistan but with the recent crisis in Ukraine we have been using some of the humanitarian assistance to help out in Ukraine as well." With over 9,000 square meters of storage, the warehouse houses a range of emergency food rations, WASH supplies and other relief items including sleeping mats, tarpaulins, fleece, blankets, and kitchen sets.
Essential food items, including flour, travel from the hub in Termez to all corners of Afghanistan.
"Some of them are going to Badakhshan via Dushanbe to in Tajikistan, and some will go directly into trucks where they will be sent all over the north of Afghanistan to Kabul, down to Jalalabad, to Kandahar," explains Finne Lucey, a WFP Logistics Officer. Joining forces across borders The vast amount of supplies moving in and out of the hub every day is not just an impressive logistical feat, but also a testament to the strong cooperation fostered between different UN agencies and the Government of Uzbekistan.
Speaking to colleagues at the cargo hub, Dr. Alakbarov was struck by the level of inter-agency and cross border collaboration he saw in Termez. "This is how UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and our coordination offices are joining forces across borders to deliver aid to the Afghan people. We have reached millions of people in Afghanistan with essential food aid this winter, and we will continue because no one should be left behind." Without the support of the Government of Uzbekistan in providing this high-tech facilitation cargo hub in Termez, it would not be possible to transport such large quantities of aid across the border.
"The government here has said right from the beginning a priority for them is to make sure that they support the humanitarian operations inside of Afghanistan and they're doing just that", explained Simon Hacker, RCO Uzbekistan Team Leader who joined the Resident Coordinators’ delegation.
For Dr. Alakbarov the solidarity he saw in Termez was not surprising. Reflecting on his time in Uzbekistan in the late 1990s he remarked: "Even back then during difficult times, the people of Uzbekistan have always been welcoming, they always care for their neighbors.
It’s heartwarming to see the level of development in the country today, to see this generosity and open attitude towards Afghans, sharing the fruits of their development." Beyond emergency relief The spirit of neighborly solidarity between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan runs deep, and goes beyond the provision of emergency humanitarian relief - as the Resident Coordinators saw during their second stop of their mission to Termez at an education facility for Afghan students.
The Educational Center for Training Afghan Citizens (ECTAC), which was initially set up in 2017 by the governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, delivers a broad range of higher and vocational education and training to Afghans living in Termez.
In December of 2021, as more and more young Afghans began to cross the border into Uzbekistan, UNDP partnered with ECTAC to launch a new project aimed expanding educational opportunities for Afghan students in Termez, with a particular focus on youth and women.
The center offers a wider range of courses, from technical and vocational training to languages and humanities. During a tour of the center, the Resident Coordinators spoke to one of the current students, 17-year-old Shekiba Samadi who was born and raised in Jowzjan province located in the northern part of Afghanistan.
Sheikia has been studying Uzbek language and literature at the center for the last 3 years.
"I really love reading and literature. During the last 3 years of my stay in Uzbekistan, I got familiarized well with Uzbek history and culture and with the help of my teachers studied foreign languages. Now I can read literature and books in Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, Turkish and Russian languages," she mentions. Ahmad Javid Anis, from Sari Pul province in Afghanistan also studies Uzbek at the Centre. He told Dr. Alakbarov that has become so proficient at the language that he is now translating various Uzbek books into Pashto, including a book written by the President of Uzbekistan.
"My future dream is to continue doing research in Uzbek language and literature. I also want to educate the younger generation in my home country and to serve the bright future of Afghanistan." Returning to the UN country office in Afghanistan at the end of the joint mission to Termez, Resident Coordinator Dr. Alakbarov felt inspired from what he saw and hopeful despite the challenges ahead.
Afghanistan remains at a critical juncture. The road ahead for many Afghans may be uncertain, but the joint mission highlighted that the people of Afghanistan can turn to their neighbor to the north for support and solidarity during this extraordinary time.
Together with other regional UN agencies and partners, the Resident Coordinator’s team in Afghanistan is more determined than ever to scale up its operations and ensure that no one is left behind.
"We are not going to stop. We are going to deliver more and reach every family in Afghanistan." This story was written by Iona Allan of the UN Development Coordination Office with inputs from UN Afghanistan and UN Uzbekistan. To learn more about the UN humanitarian response in Afghanistan, please read this story. To learn more about the results of our work in this area and beyond, please read the latest UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, remembers this period well, having spent the early days of his career working for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Regional Office for Central Asia. In Uzbekistan he witnessed first-hand the challenges in expanding healthcare and other essential services.
"Back in those days the overall developmental context of the country and the challenges experienced were very different from the current level of advancement and development."
Thirty years later, as Dr. Alakbarov returns to the country, Uzbekistan finds itself in a very different position: a key supporter and vital partner in the United Nation’s response to one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies.
Since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021, humanitarian needs across the country have soared. Ninety-five per cent of people do not have enough food to eat. 6.6 million people are at risk of famine and one million children are severely malnourished.
As more and more Afghans are forced to rely on humanitarian assistance in order to survive, UN Afghanistan, led by Dr. Alakbarov and his team, have been working with UN agencies to scale up its response. Regional cooperation is key Regional cooperation has been key to enabling the UN’s successful response in Afghanistan, as Dr. Alakbarov learnt during a recent joint mission to Termez in southern Uzbekistan with the Resident Coordinator of Uzbekistan, Ms. Roli Asthana and country representatives from UNICEF and UNHCR.
Termez is a relatively small city of just over 180, 000 people, but it is playing an outsized role in supporting the UN’s emergency operations across the border in Afghanistan. Termez Regional Humanitarian Logistics Hub is situated 2 km from the border and was the first stop of the Resident Coordinators’ joint visit.
The center was set up in October 2021 by UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - with strong support from the Government of Uzbekistan. Its proximity to the border means supplies can be moved quickly and easily to where they are needed most. UNHCR Representative for Afghanistan Leonard Zulu explained to the Resident Coordinators’ delegation how the hub’s location in Termez was vital to enabling a quick and flexible humanitarian response. "Our humanitarian assistance has been brought closer to the Afghanistan operations so that if we need that across the border we can move it as quickly as possible.
So far we have moved 1000 tons from here mainly to Afghanistan but with the recent crisis in Ukraine we have been using some of the humanitarian assistance to help out in Ukraine as well." With over 9,000 square meters of storage, the warehouse houses a range of emergency food rations, WASH supplies and other relief items including sleeping mats, tarpaulins, fleece, blankets, and kitchen sets.
Essential food items, including flour, travel from the hub in Termez to all corners of Afghanistan.
"Some of them are going to Badakhshan via Dushanbe to in Tajikistan, and some will go directly into trucks where they will be sent all over the north of Afghanistan to Kabul, down to Jalalabad, to Kandahar," explains Finne Lucey, a WFP Logistics Officer. Joining forces across borders The vast amount of supplies moving in and out of the hub every day is not just an impressive logistical feat, but also a testament to the strong cooperation fostered between different UN agencies and the Government of Uzbekistan.
Speaking to colleagues at the cargo hub, Dr. Alakbarov was struck by the level of inter-agency and cross border collaboration he saw in Termez. "This is how UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and our coordination offices are joining forces across borders to deliver aid to the Afghan people. We have reached millions of people in Afghanistan with essential food aid this winter, and we will continue because no one should be left behind." Without the support of the Government of Uzbekistan in providing this high-tech facilitation cargo hub in Termez, it would not be possible to transport such large quantities of aid across the border.
"The government here has said right from the beginning a priority for them is to make sure that they support the humanitarian operations inside of Afghanistan and they're doing just that", explained Simon Hacker, RCO Uzbekistan Team Leader who joined the Resident Coordinators’ delegation.
For Dr. Alakbarov the solidarity he saw in Termez was not surprising. Reflecting on his time in Uzbekistan in the late 1990s he remarked: "Even back then during difficult times, the people of Uzbekistan have always been welcoming, they always care for their neighbors.
It’s heartwarming to see the level of development in the country today, to see this generosity and open attitude towards Afghans, sharing the fruits of their development." Beyond emergency relief The spirit of neighborly solidarity between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan runs deep, and goes beyond the provision of emergency humanitarian relief - as the Resident Coordinators saw during their second stop of their mission to Termez at an education facility for Afghan students.
The Educational Center for Training Afghan Citizens (ECTAC), which was initially set up in 2017 by the governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, delivers a broad range of higher and vocational education and training to Afghans living in Termez.
In December of 2021, as more and more young Afghans began to cross the border into Uzbekistan, UNDP partnered with ECTAC to launch a new project aimed expanding educational opportunities for Afghan students in Termez, with a particular focus on youth and women.
The center offers a wider range of courses, from technical and vocational training to languages and humanities. During a tour of the center, the Resident Coordinators spoke to one of the current students, 17-year-old Shekiba Samadi who was born and raised in Jowzjan province located in the northern part of Afghanistan.
Sheikia has been studying Uzbek language and literature at the center for the last 3 years.
"I really love reading and literature. During the last 3 years of my stay in Uzbekistan, I got familiarized well with Uzbek history and culture and with the help of my teachers studied foreign languages. Now I can read literature and books in Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, Turkish and Russian languages," she mentions. Ahmad Javid Anis, from Sari Pul province in Afghanistan also studies Uzbek at the Centre. He told Dr. Alakbarov that has become so proficient at the language that he is now translating various Uzbek books into Pashto, including a book written by the President of Uzbekistan.
"My future dream is to continue doing research in Uzbek language and literature. I also want to educate the younger generation in my home country and to serve the bright future of Afghanistan." Returning to the UN country office in Afghanistan at the end of the joint mission to Termez, Resident Coordinator Dr. Alakbarov felt inspired from what he saw and hopeful despite the challenges ahead.
Afghanistan remains at a critical juncture. The road ahead for many Afghans may be uncertain, but the joint mission highlighted that the people of Afghanistan can turn to their neighbor to the north for support and solidarity during this extraordinary time.
Together with other regional UN agencies and partners, the Resident Coordinator’s team in Afghanistan is more determined than ever to scale up its operations and ensure that no one is left behind.
"We are not going to stop. We are going to deliver more and reach every family in Afghanistan." This story was written by Iona Allan of the UN Development Coordination Office with inputs from UN Afghanistan and UN Uzbekistan. To learn more about the UN humanitarian response in Afghanistan, please read this story. To learn more about the results of our work in this area and beyond, please read the latest UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.
1 of 5
Story
08 March 2022
24.4 million people need humanitarian assistance now Afghanistan. Half are women & girls – these are their stories of struggle and defiance
Women’s access to safe outdoor spaces is limited in Jalalabad. When Marzia, a woman community leader, heard about the intervention by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and its partners in her community, she started a campaign to convince all local men and women to vote for a women’s park to be built. This community project indeed passed a vote and Jalalabad now has a green area for women.
“Women decided to build a park here in our community, because they recognized the importance of a green area for women. Now we have taken a step towards true humanity, in which all women and men have the same right and responsibilities,” said a local man in Jalalabad. Community leaders like Marzia played an active role in advocating for the initiative, but also in the project planning, implementation and monitoring.
On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Marzia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
“I listened to the dangers of early marriage and decided to spare Shabana from what happened to my first daughter. My husband, however, did not want to listen to me.” Shabana is 13 and her mother did not give up on protecting here, but rather sought advice at one of the safe centres run by the Spotlight Initiative and its partners in Herat province.
Counsellors at the centre spoke to Shabana’s father about all the unpleasant aspects of early marriage and the responsibilities of a father to protect his daughters. At the safe centre, Shabana and her family also received food and her father got a small job selling vegetables. He now is no longer interested in marrying off Shabana.
At this moment, 24.4 million people in Afghanistan, more than half of the country’s population, need humanitarian assistance. This dire crisis is pushing many families to resort to desperate measures like child labour and early marriage. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Shabana to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Zahra was top of her class and an inspiration to other students at the tailoring sessions provided by the United Nations International Labour Organization in Mazar-i-Sharif. A difficult financial situation forced Zahra and her family to live in a tent. But her commitment to learning new skills and her talent for tailoring helped Zahra pull herself and her family out of poverty.
Within 8 months of completing the training course, Zahra’s new income had paid for the construction of a room where she could live with her family. She also managed to scale-up her tailoring business and bought a motorcycle, now used by her husband to deliver goods to the market. By the end of the year, Zahra hopes to be able to add another room to her quarters, improving the living conditions of her family. Her ambition is to help her children receive the education that she always dreamt they would have.
No one should be forced to live in a tent, but when this happens, the United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to pull themselves out of poverty and into a better life. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Zahra to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
“Every morning when we used to take the cows to the pasture, I would go to the hill in front of the boys’ school and watch the school. I loved school before I knew what school meant,” said Basmina, who grew up in Khost province. The school was too far away from Basmina’s village and her father was worried that she would not be safe, and that the community would judge their family.
One day, Fariba, a teacher in a literacy programme run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its partners across Afghanistan, came to their house. Fariba was looking for girls like Basmina, eager to learn how to read and write, to join her literacy class. Basmina’s mother again faced the reluctance of her husband, but this time she did not give up – the school was established in their village and the teachers were all women. Years passed and Basmina graduated from university – top of her class. Now, she works as Lead Adviser for an international organization in Afghanistan. None of this would not have been possible if Fariba – Basmina’s first teacher – had not knocked on her door all those years ago.
On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women and girls like Basmina, her mother, and her dedicated teacher, Fariba, to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Nabila and her family were forced to leave their home due to insecurity in their province. In 2007, they returned to Afghanistan, but their hometown was still not secure enough to allow resettlement, so they found refuge in a camp in Mazar-i-Sharif. While living in the camp, Nabila learnt how to embroider. Previously unemployed, and with her parents in need of medical assistance and unable to work, Nabila is now the sole breadwinner of her family.
Nabila is one of 5.5 million internally displaced Afghans, who have fled their home in search of refuge within their country. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Nabila to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Mansoora used to be a Computer Science student at the University of Balkh, but the fall of the democratically elected government in Afghanistan pushed Mansoora out of the classroom and into her home. Technology has always been her passion, so when the United Nations International Labour Organization offered support, she signed up for a mobile phone repair workshop. Now, she is training other women on how to repair phones, while providing software services for women customers at a shop in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Mansoora is grateful that she can contribute to her family’s income and save money for her education, but she is also eager to get back to university. She dreams of one day running her own repair business. The United Nations stands firm in the belief that women and girls should be able to pursue the education of their choice.
Forced to suffer the consequences of multiple overlapping crises, millions of Afghan students – the country’s future – are out of school. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Mansoora to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Born in a village in Afghanistan, Zarina did everything she could to obtain an education. However, her family only allowed her to attend until the second grade. But her mother did not give up, homeschooling Zarina right through to the twelfth grade. Zarina then moved to a city, studying at tertiary level for three years – until her family decided that she could no longer attend university. Reflecting the determination of her mother before her, Zarina did not give up and continued her degree in Turkmenistan, where she studied Political Science. But she ultimately was forced to stop her studies, due to financial difficulties.
Upon returning to Afghanistan, Zarina found work in a soap factory, and now sometimes leads the production process. In her spare time, Zarina writes poetry – with a series of her poems being published in Europe. Zarina dreams of one day running her own soap factory.
Every day that a girl misses out on an education is a missed opportunity – for them, for their family, for their community. In Afghanistan, 60% of the 4.2 million children not enrolled in school before the recent humanitarian crisis were girls. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Zarina to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Zainap, 17, has two sisters and two brothers. They live in a village in Herat province with their mother, who does all the work in the house, and their father, who is self-employed. When Zainap first came to the Girls Safe Space run by the Spotlight Initiative and its partners, she was very scared. She talked about her father being harsh, shouting and even beating her because she did not yet wish to marry.
The social worker helping Zainap at the Girls Safe Space was able to provide practical advice on how to speak about her worries to her mother and religious leaders. In the end, Zainap’s father understood how terrified she was. The situation slowly improved at home, and Zainap was no longer pushed to get married.
Some 28 per cent of Afghan women aged between 15 and 49 were married before the age of 18. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Zainap to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing
1 of 5
Story
08 March 2022
Meet the Afghan women and girls who inspire and motivate us to work every day
“I used to be a university teacher, now I am unemployed,” explains Shukriya, an active member of her community until August 2021 who now finds herself standing in line for food distributed by the World Food Programme. Restrictions on women’s rights, such as the right to work, push many women like Shukriya to line up for food for the first time in their lives, reflecting the shifting face of hunger in Afghanistan.
No one should have to queue for food, but when but when this is necessary, the United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to pull themselves out of poverty and into a better life. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Shukriya to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Some 35% of teachers in Afghanistan are women. Currently they are being paid only occasionally – or, as in Shukriya’s case, not paid at all. No durable peace, recovery, or stability is possible without women’s active engagement and participation in their country.
Dr. Razia is the only woman doctor in the COVID-19 ward of a hospital in Kabul – one of the four COVID-19 hospitals supported by the World Health Organization, with assistance from the European Union.
“During the fourth wave of the pandemic, we are seeing increasing number of patients coming to the hospital and the majority of them have comorbidities. As health workers, we continue to look after them even though we operate in extremely difficult circumstances. My role is to save lives and I will continue to serve my people,” says Dr. Razia
Women health workers serve many roles in the health system – doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory experts, epidemiologists, cleaners, interns. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Dr. Razia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Shamsia, like millions of Afghans, was pushed out of her home by increased levels of insecurity in her town. Along with her parents and sisters, Shamsia now lives in a camp where people like her, who fled their homes in search of refuge within the country, do all they can to build a new life. For Shamsia, the journey from her home started when she was 12 and her parents could no longer afford her education.
Shamsia’s family initially moved to Kabul to pursue better economic opportunities. Now, they live in a camp in Mazar-i-Sharif, where Shamsia learnt how to weave carpets at a training run by the United Nations International Labour Organization. At 27, Shamsia is the sole breadwinner of her family and the head of a business that continues an ancient Afghan tradition.
No one should have to leave their home and choosing to do so is always a hard choice. The United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to start their lives anew.
3.5 million Afghans have fled their homes in search of refuge in other parts of the country. On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Shamsia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Amina noticed there was something different about Firoza’s delivery – another baby was on the way. Family Health House guidelines advise midwives like Amina not to attempt to deliver twins alone, but Firoza’s precarious condition meant it would have been too dangerous to transfer her to another facility, and in any case, most had closed due to the deteriorating security situation. Fearing for the well-being of her patient, Amina quickly called the Midwifery Helpline for support.
The Midwifery Helpline from the United Nations Population Fund offers remote mentoring to midwives in Afghanistan, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Launched in 2016, the toll-free number is staffed by two gynecologists and two midwives who provide counselling, referrals, and step-by-step instructions to lead health practitioners through complex, and at times lifesaving, procedures.
On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Amina to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
“I love drawing, but my parents cannot afford to buy me any paper or paint,” said Mariam, 16, who lives in Herat province. “Because I can’t go to school now, I just stay at home.” The Spotlight Initiative (SI) in Afghanistan, among other activities, creates safe spaces where girls and women like Mariam can access psychosocial support, learning, and other services during time of insecurity and crisis.
Mariam uses the safe spaces facilitated by the SI and its partners to paint, hoping that one day she will be able to complete her education and become a painter. Mariam’s father is now encouraging other members of his communities to send their girls to these dedicated safe spaces.
For over seven months, teenage girls across Afghanistan have been forbidden from attending school. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Mariam to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Hamida had worked in Afghanistan as a prosecutor, independent investigator, and civil society leader for more than 16 years. Like many across the country, the women’s protection shelter Hamida used to run is now closed. This shelter, run in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, hosted women and their children who would otherwise have remained trapped with the perpetrator of the abuse from which they fled. At these shelters, women learn how to read and write and acquire new skills that allow them to become economically independent. They also receive counselling to overcome trauma and interact with each other, sharing their stories in a healing way.
Today, Hamida is still in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of Afghan women and girls. She is in daily contact with the women who used to come to her shelter. She offers counselling over the telephone, but she knows that this is not enough for those women who are locked in with their abusers.
It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Afghan women will experience some form of domestic violence during their lifetime. The United Nations in Afghanistan is advocating alongside women like Hamida for the reopening of life-saving services like women’s protection centres across the country.
“I want to be a pilot one day,” notes Fazila – like many of her women colleagues works at the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme. UNHAS flies where and when no one else can, delivering life-saving items like food, and transporting humanitarian experts where they are most needed.
In Afghanistan, UNHAS employs a team of women who are continuing to come to the workplace and provide an essential contribution to their country, despite the hurdles that many women like them now face in Afghanistan – restrictions on their rights to work, to learn, to move. When extreme crisis hits – like the one Afghanistan is currently facing, the United Nations continues to provide safe transport options for aid workers and life-saving assistance to the most hard-to-reach areas.
Some 24.4 million people need humanitarian assistance now in Afghanistan, half of them women or girls. On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Fazila to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
Twenty-two years ago, Hamida left Afghanistan in search of better opportunities for her and her family. War had forced her to leave everything behind and migrate to Iran. Hamida worked on a farm and, 16 years after leaving her home, came back to Afghanistan with the vision of running her own farm. Home was where Hamida and her family felt most comfortable – but her native province was still not safe and the economic situation across the country remained dire.
Hamida and her family moved to Mazar-i-Sharif, to a camp for internally displaced persons – people who had to flee their homes but did not cross an international border. Here, her farming skills were improved by the United Nations International Labour Organization, which matched her knowledge with management and financial skills. Now, Hamida is running a small-scale farm.
Although 80 per cent of the world’s food is produced by small-scale farming, the contribution of women farmers is often not maximized. As a farmer running her own farm, Hamida is feeding her family and contributing to her country’s economy. The United Nations in Afghanistan works with women and men to break down the barriers that prevent them from feeding their families, while promoting reinvestment in their livelihood.
Afghans make up one of the largest refugee populations worldwide. There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees worldwide, of whom 2.2 million are registered in Iran and Pakistan alone. On International Women’s Day – and every day – the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Hamida to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.
1 of 5
Press Release
08 March 2023
THE UN IN AFGHANISTAN CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO DRACONIAN RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN & GIRLS BY THE DE FACTO AUTHORITIES
On International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Afghanistan is renewing its call on the country’s de facto authorities to halt and reverse harsh restrictions on the fundamental rights of women and girls.
Since August 2021, the Taliban de facto authorities have demonstrated an almost singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes. These restrictions are at odds with human rights obligations set forth in instruments concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms to which Afghanistan is a State party and by which it is bound, and damage Afghanistan’s prospects of recovering from decades of war.
“Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights, and it has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
“Confining half of the country’s population to their homes in one of the world’s largest humanitarian and economic crises is a colossal act of national self-harm. It will condemn not only women and girls, but all Afghans, to poverty and aid-dependency for generations to come. It will further isolate Afghanistan from its own citizens and from the rest of the world,” Otunbayeva said.
UNAMA has recorded an almost constant stream of discriminatory edicts and measures against women by the de facto authorities since August 2021.
In September 2021, the de facto authorities suspended girls’ secondary education and, despite public pronouncements to the contrary, extended the suspension indefinitely when classes resumed in March 2022. Although the de facto authorities have said that they are in the process of aligning the school curriculum with Islamic values and cultural norms, no progress has been visible. In December 2022, the de facto Ministry of Higher Education suspended university education for women.
The denial of access to education has innumerable actual and potential physical and psychosocial repercussions, including suicides; child marriage; early childbearing; poverty-related losses such as in regard to health, nutrition, well-being and wealth due to lower earnings; diminished agency, decision-making and related social capital; and increased risk of domestic violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Women’s right to travel or work outside the confines of their home and to access public spaces is largely restricted. Women have also been excluded from all levels of public decision-making.
“Afghan women have shown incredible courage and resilience in the face of their ongoing and systematic erasure,” said Alison Davidian, Special Representative for UN Women in Afghanistan.
“The implications of the harm the Taliban are inflicting on their own citizens goes beyond women and girls. It impacts all Afghans and will resonate throughout generations. The rights of women and girls must be restored immediately in order to build an inclusive, peaceful and hopeful Afghanistan.”
Women human rights defenders peacefully protesting have been targeted, beaten, and arrested. Combined, these decrees, directives, and rules limit women’s ability to earn a living, access health care and education, escape violence, and exercise their rights.
In 2023, 13.8 million Afghan women and girls are in need of humanitarian assistance – yet the de facto authorities have undermined the unprecedented international aid effort by also banning women working in non-governmental organizations, even though they are crucial to the delivery of life-saving help.
For more information, please contact:
UNAMA: spokesperson-unama@un.org(link sends e-mail)
UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org(link sends e-mail)
1 of 5
Press Release
22 January 2023
High-level UN delegation led by the Deputy Secretary-General calls on Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban authorities to reverse course on recent decrees limiting women’s and girls’ rights, says Afghans must not be abandoned
On behalf of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political, Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari, completed a four-day visit to Afghanistan to appraise the situation, engage de facto authorities and underscore UN solidarity with the Afghan people.
In meetings with de facto authorities in both Kabul and Kandahar, the delegation directly conveyed the alarm over the recent decree banning women from working for national and international non-governmental organizations, a move that undermines the work of numerous organizations helping millions of vulnerable Afghans.
The de facto authorities have also recently moved to close universities to female students across the country until further notice, and have barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted women and girls’ freedom of movement, excluded women from most areas of the workforce and banned women from using parks, gyms and public bath houses.
“My message was very clear: while we recognize the important exemptions made, these restrictions present Afghan women and girls with a future that confines them in their own homes, violating their rights and depriving the communities of their services,” Ms Mohammed said.
“Our collective ambition is for a prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, and on a path to sustainable development. But right now, Afghanistan is isolating itself, in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis and one of the most vulnerable nations on earth to climate change,” she said. “We must do everything we can to bridge this gap.”
During their mission, Ms Mohammed and Ms Bahous met with affected communities, humanitarian workers, civil society and other key actors, in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat.
“We have witnessed extraordinary resilience. Afghan women left us no doubt of their courage and refusal to be erased from public life. They will continue to advocate and fight for their rights, and we are duty bound to support them in doing so,” Ms Bahous said.
“What is happening in Afghanistan is a grave women's right crisis and a wakeup call for the international community. It shows how quickly decades of progress on women´s rights can be reversed in a matter of days. UN Women stands with all Afghan women and girls and will continue to amplify their voices to regain all their rights."
The United Nations and its partners, including national and international non-governmental organizations, are helping more than 25 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid to survive, and remain committed to staying and delivering.
The most recent decrees issued by the de facto authorities banning women from working for NGOs has forced many partners to pause operations which can no longer be safely and meaningfully delivered. While the recent exemptions to the ban introduced by the de facto authorities are opening spaces for humanitarians to continue - and in some cases resume - operations, these remain limited to few sectors and activities.
“The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is predicated on principles that require full, safe and unhindered access for all aid workers, including women”, Ms Mohammed said.
The visit to Afghanistan followed a series of high-level consultations on Afghanistan across the Gulf and Asia. The delegation met with the leadership of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Islamic Development Bank, groups of Afghan women in Ankara and Islamabad and a group of Ambassadors and Special Envoys to Afghanistan based in Doha.
The delegation convened with government leaders from the region and religious leaders to advocate for the crucial role and full participation of women and rally support for the Afghan people.
Throughout the visits, countries and partners recognized the critical role of the UN in building bridges to finding lasting solutions, as well as the urgency to deliver lifesaving support and maintain effective engagement, led by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
They asked that efforts be intensified to reflect the urgency of the situation and stressed the importance of a unified response by the international community.
The need for a revitalized and realistic political pathway was consistently highlighted and all remained firm on the fundamental principles, including women's and girls’ rights to education, work and public life in Afghanistan.
There was broad consensus that the region and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation’s leadership on these issues was critical.
The proposal of an international conference on women and girls in the Muslim World during the month of March 2023 was also considered and agreed in principle.
For more information, please contact:
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
Farhan Haq, haqf@un.org
UNAMA
spokesperson-unama@un.org
UN Women
media.team@unwomen.org
1 of 5
Press Release
08 January 2023
UN condemns reported ban on women working for NGOs and International Organizations
The United Nations is profoundly concerned by reports that the Taliban de facto authorities today issued an order barring all female employees of national and international organizations from going to work with immediate effect. Any such order would violate the most fundamental rights of women, as well as be a clear breach of humanitarian principles.
The UN will seek to meet with the Taliban leadership to obtain clarity on the reported order. Women must be enabled to play a critical role in all aspects of life, including the humanitarian response. Their participation must be both respected and safeguarded. This latest decision will only further hurt those most vulnerable, especially women and girls.
The UN in Afghanistan and its partners condemn the reported order and remind the de facto authorities that taking away the free will of women to choose their own fate, disempowering and excluding them systematically from all aspects of public and political life takes the country backward, jeopardizing efforts for any meaningful peace or stability in the country.
For further information, please contact: Tapiwa Gomo, Public Information Officer, OCHA Afghanistan, gomo@un.org, Mobile: +93 79 600 0152. www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int
1 of 5
Press Release
21 December 2022
UN IN AFGHANISTAN CONDEMNS TALIBAN DECISION TO SUSPEND WOMEN FROM UNIVERSITIES AND CALLS FOR ITS IMMEDIATE REVERSAL
The UN family and the entire humanitarian community in Afghanistan share the outrage of millions of Afghans and the international community over the decision by the Taliban de facto authorities to close universities to female students across the country until further notice and calls on the de facto authorities to immediately revoke the decision.
1 of 5
Press Release
14 December 2022
The United Nations Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund is excited to announce its latest Call for Proposals in Afghanistan to enhance the protection of women and girls and promote the participation and leadership of women in humanitarian crisis and response
Institutional funding from 2,500 USD to 30,000 USD
To reinforce the institutional capacity of local civil society organizations working on the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda to ensure they are able to sustain themselves and to improve their impact (aligned with WPHF impact area 1).
Programmatic funding from 30,000 USD to 200,000 USD
To finance programmatic activities of civil society organizations that (i) promote the participation and leadership of women in humanitarian crisis and response (aligned with WPHF impact area 3) OR (ii) that enhance the protection of women and girls (aligned with WPHF impact area 5).
COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES SHOULD BE EMAILED TO WPHFAPPLICATIONS@UNWOMEN.OR WITH SUBJECT TITLE “WPHF AFGHANISTAN.”
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 6 FEBRUARY 2023
An information session will be organized with prospective applicants on 12 January 2023 at 10 am Kabul time. To register your interest, please send an email to submissions.GiHA@unwomen.org with subject line “Information Session Afghanistan” by 9 January 2023. To apply, please go HERE.
Share widely with your networks and apply today.
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
24 October 2022
1 / 11