The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently announced that despite widespread restrictions, women and girls in Afghanistan still want to work and are striving to support their families by starting businesses.
In a report released on Monday (February 16), the organization stated that its assessments show women and girls, even under difficult conditions, are seeking support to establish or expand their economic activities.
In part of the report, the United Nations emphasized that these aspirations align with its programs aimed at women’s economic empowerment and the creation of equal opportunities, demonstrating that women’s economic participation still holds strong potential for growth.
The report notes that successful examples of women and girls’ entrepreneurship indicate that targeted investment and support can transform local knowledge and skills into sustainable economic activities.
UNDP also stated that continuing this process could lead to increased employment, strengthened family livelihoods, and broader economic growth at the community level.
It is worth noting that after returning to power, the current authorities first barred girls above the sixth grade from attending school. They later closed universities and medical institutes to women and girls.
Over the past four years, despite global calls to respect the rights of women and girls, the current authorities have further intensified their restrictions.
These measures have left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education.
In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses; from being examined by male doctors; from traveling without a male guardian (mahram); and from working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.
