Stephanie Luz, head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Afghanistan, states that many rural citizens are migrating to cities.
Ms. Luz identifies job opportunities, livelihood, better education, and income generation as major reasons for the migration of Afghan citizens to urban areas.
She emphasized that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is “dire,” which is part of the challenges they face.
The head of the UN Human Settlements Programme in Afghanistan said, “The caretaker government has enacted laws that deprive women of public life.”
She added, “On one hand, it is crucial to ensure that women can still access some public spaces; but at the same time, it is particularly important to provide them access to ensure that suitable places are made available for them.”
Stephanie Luz mentioned that the United Nations is currently consulting on how to create culturally acceptable spaces in the current environment, as well as providing areas where women can meet outside their homes and find ways to leave their homes.
While this UN official describes the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan as dire, the current government has imposed severe restrictions on women and girls since regaining control over the country.
The caretaker government has banned women and girls from education, work, freedom of movement, and raising their voices outside their homes.
Additionally, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has recently stated that the current government’s new laws have restricted the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens.
