The United Nations Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan has recently announced that, with a focus on empowering women and girls, it is creating opportunities for them to expand their own businesses and support their families. In a message posted on its X account, the organization stated that investing in skills and livelihoods plays a vital role in strengthening long-term resilience. It further noted that its support programs are being implemented in cooperation with partners for young people, women, and men to create employment opportunities and promote the development of economic activities. The UN Special Trust Fund emphasized in part of its message that supporting small businesses and creating job opportunities can contribute to social and economic growth and reduce families’ dependence on emergency assistance. While UN agencies are working to empower women and girls through self-employment initiatives, Afghanistan’s current authorities have severely restricted work opportunities for women and girls. Women and girls in Afghanistan are barred from working in many sectors, including even in some UN offices. However, small and medium-sized enterprises remain among the few opportunities still available to them. It should be noted that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities deprived women and girls of access to education. In their latest restriction, they also closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan faces a severe shortage of personnel. This action has left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

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.

The United Nations has recently announced that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the European Union, is helping women in Afghanistan achieve economic self-sufficiency. UNDP Afghanistan shared today (Monday, February 16) on its X account the story of a woman from Badakhshan who, after receiving a loan from the organization, was able to establish a tailoring workshop and create job opportunities for seven other women. Masouma, the woman who received the assistance, told UNDP: “I took a loan, bought machines, and hired seven other employees.” UNDP further emphasized that through her tailoring workshop, Masouma is stitching a path toward self-reliance for the women gathered around her. The organization added that by improving women’s access to financial services and supporting the growth of women-led businesses in local communities, it promotes their economic empowerment. According to United Nations statistics, 88 percent of female-headed households do not have access to their basic needs, and only seven percent of women are employed outside the home. UNDP stated that under these difficult circumstances, it focuses on practical and community-based solutions to strengthen family livelihoods. It is worth noting that Afghanistan has continuously faced a severe food insecurity crisis in recent years—a crisis that has disproportionately affected women and children. Based on United Nations data, 75 percent of Afghanistan’s population faces food insecurity, and 21.9 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance this year.

UNICEF has announced in its latest update that in 2025 it provided assistance to more than 20 million people in Afghanistan, including 11 million children. The organization said today (Sunday, February 15) in a published report that this assistance included education, health services, access to safe drinking water, and nutrition support. Part of the report states: “Educational opportunities were provided to 442,000 out-of-school children (65 percent girls) through 14,000 community-based education classes, and access to safe drinking water was ensured for more than 2.1 million people.” UNICEF further emphasized that 611,897 children suffering from acute malnutrition received treatment. The report also notes that 943,567 pregnant women were supported. According to the report, psychosocial support was provided to more than 2.2 million children and their caregivers through community-based and media programs. UNICEF had previously announced that 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are facing acute malnutrition.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, stated that 1,607 days have passed since girls above the age of 12 were barred from attending school. In a message posted today (Wednesday, Feb 11) on its X account, the mission wrote that more than four years of opportunity have been lost and that without women and girls, the future is bleak. UNAMA once again called on the de facto authorities to lift the ban on girls’ education. The UN office in Afghanistan also stated that equality in science is fundamental to human progress, yet for more than four years, Afghan women and girls have been denied access to education and employment. A statement from the organization noted that this deprivation not only sidelines women and girls but also constitutes a serious obstacle to the country’s development and long-term prosperity. It is worth noting that after returning to power, the current authorities first barred girls above sixth grade from attending school. The group later closed universities and medical institutes to women and girls as well. Over the past four years, despite global calls to respect the rights of women and girls, the current authorities have intensified their restrictions. These actions 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 non-governmental organizations, as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has warned that the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan could expose them to serious risks of human rights violations. He urged Islamabad to uphold its international obligations toward refugees. Mr. Bennett made these remarks at the “Asma Jahangir Conference” on the human rights situation in Pakistan, stating that Afghanistan is not safe for the return of many individuals, particularly women and girls. He further emphasized that current policies have closed off space for living and working for a large segment of society, and that forced returns could have dangerous consequences. Referring to bans on education and employment for women and girls, Bennett added that various groups—including journalists, human rights defenders, former government employees, and ethnic and religious minorities—face the risk of arbitrary detention and threats. According to him, this situation has effectively made voluntary and safe return impossible. In another part of his remarks, he said that more than two million Afghan migrants either returned or were forced to return to the country in the past year alone, with hundreds of thousands deported from Pakistan. He added that many of these individuals left not by choice, but due to fear of arrest and security pressures. The UN Special Rapporteur also warned about the impact of these returns on children, stating that the education of thousands has been disrupted, the risk of early marriage has increased, and some have been exposed to trafficking and exploitation. In conclusion, Richard Bennett pointed to the multiple ongoing crises in Afghanistan—including widespread food insecurity, prolonged drought, economic collapse, and shrinking civic space—saying that these conditions further underscore the urgent need for greater attention to supporting Afghan migrants, especially women.