Heather Barr, Deputy Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, has said in a recent statement that the caretaker government’s policies toward girls’ education pose a serious threat to Afghanistan’s future. In a post shared on her X account, Ms. Barr wrote that the ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade is only one part of a broader set of restrictions that have weakened the education system across Afghanistan. She further emphasized that the current authorities have systematically undermined the education structure through actions such as dismissing qualified teachers, removing non-religious subjects, and imposing repeated restrictions. Barr added that the harm caused by these policies is growing every day, and their consequences will affect future generations. The Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Women’s Rights Division stressed that the impact of this trend is not limited to girls alone; rather, it affects the entire national education system and places Afghanistan’s future at serious risk. Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that education in Afghanistan has reached a critical point. According to the organization’s report, more than 90 percent of ten-year-old children in Afghanistan are unable to read a simple text. UNICEF has described this situation as a sign of a “learning without education” crisis—a crisis that, according to international organizations, has emerged as a result of restrictive education policies.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently stated that education and prenatal care for women in Afghanistan are vital and help reduce the risks of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. In a report, the organization said that in many parts of Afghanistan, women are forced to travel long distances to receive healthcare services. UNFPA further emphasized that in the absence of professional medical centers, pregnancy and childbirth are often carried out at home with the assistance of untrained individuals. The organization added that establishing maternal and family health service centers in remote areas would reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications, increase access to healthcare services, and improve the health of mothers and newborns. The report also noted that providing prenatal education—including postnatal care, safe spacing between pregnancies, and identifying warning signs—plays an important role in protecting the health of mothers and newborns. According to UNFPA, the development and expansion of maternal and newborn healthcare services, especially in underserved areas, can improve family health and reduce years of concern and risks caused by the lack of professional services. International organizations have also described Afghanistan as one of the most difficult countries for mothers, stating that Afghan women face numerous challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. Concerns about rising maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan come at a time when, following the takeover of the country by the current authorities and the reduction of international aid, the national healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has said that Afghanistan is facing one of the most severe child malnutrition crises in the world, with around 3.7 million children affected by acute malnutrition each year. In a statement posted on its X account, the organization said that this situation increases the risk of death for children by up to 12 times. Referring to the physical consequences of acute malnutrition, UNICEF emphasized that the condition damages children’s brain development in the earliest days of life, weakens the immune system, and makes children more vulnerable to diseases. The organization further stressed that this crisis has remained largely unchanged in Afghanistan for more than two decades. Despite warning about declining financial resources, UNICEF said it will continue to support the treatment of children suffering from malnutrition at more than 3,400 health facilities across Afghanistan. However, the UN Children’s Fund noted that ending child malnutrition requires collective action, sustained funding, and a shared commitment to prioritizing children. Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations in Afghanistan wrote in a report that the country’s food security situation is critical. According to the report, 17 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute hunger, and about 4 million children are at risk of malnutrition. The WFP had predicted that child malnutrition would continue to rise and would affect nearly four million children in the near future. Recently, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also said in a report that food insecurity remains severe. Rates of malnutrition among women and children have increased by 15 percent, and millions of people will be left without assistance during the coming winter.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has once again criticized the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, warning that the situation is putting an entire generation at risk. In a message published on its official X account, UNICEF stated that since 2021, following the imposition of restrictions on girls’ education, Afghanistan’s education sector has been facing a serious crisis. UNICEF further emphasized that due to the caretaker government’s policies that have kept schools closed, more than 2.2 million girls have been deprived of access to education. The UN Children’s Fund added that education is a fundamental right of every child; however, in Afghanistan this right has been taken away from half of society. UNICEF also noted that while girls’ education beyond the sixth grade remains banned, enrollment rates for boys in schools have also declined. It should be noted that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have barred women and girls from education and learning. In their latest restriction, they have also closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the country’s health sector facing a severe shortage of personnel. These actions by the current authorities have resulted in millions of school-aged girls being denied education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, has stated that lifting restrictions and ensuring women’s and girls’ access to education and employment is one of the key pillars of the international community’s engagement with Afghanistan. Ms. DiCarlo made these remarks during her three-day visit to Afghanistan aimed at following up on the “Doha Process.” She said that the Doha Process was launched in 2023 by the UN Secretary-General to enable “principled and pragmatic” engagement with Afghanistan for the benefit of all Afghan citizens. The UN Under-Secretary-General emphasized that in all her meetings and discussions, she has consistently stressed the necessity of restoring women’s access to education, work, and public life. She added that this issue remains one of the central pillars of the international community’s engagement with Afghanistan. Ms. DiCarlo also reported on her meeting with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister, noting that discussions covered cooperation in combating narcotics, efforts to improve the country’s security situation, obstacles to humanitarian access resulting from the closure of the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, and restrictions on female staff working for aid organizations, including the United Nations. Referring to the role of female staff of UN agencies in Afghanistan’s development, she said that she had expressed solidarity with them. She further stated that women working for UN entities must be able to return to their offices in order to deliver essential services to the people of Afghanistan. According to DiCarlo, she also met with women and civil society representatives, and in these meetings they discussed the human rights situation in the country, including restrictions imposed on women and girls, as well as the need to continue dialogue with the current authorities and the international community through the Doha Process.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund in Afghanistan, has recently announced that alongside the deprivation of girls from education, the enrollment of boys in schools is also stagnating. In a message published today (Monday, January 26) on its X account, the organization stated that 2.2 million girls were deprived of school education in 2021. UNICEF further emphasized that the education system, which is in crisis, is putting an entire generation at risk. UNICEF stressed that education is the right of every child. Additionally, UNICEF and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, noted in a joint report that 93 percent of primary school students lack adequate reading skills. It should be noted that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have barred women and girls from education and schooling. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the health sector across Afghanistan facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. Moreover, women have been banned from attending sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has stated in a recent message that education is a fundamental human right; however, millions of children and adolescents around the world are deprived of access to education due to poverty, discrimination, armed conflict, displacement, and natural disasters. Mr. Guterres wrote on his official X account that at least 272 million children and young people worldwide do not have access to education. Emphasizing the importance of inclusive education, the UN Secretary-General called for the creation of “inclusive, resilient, and innovative” education systems for all children and adolescents across the globe. While Antonio Guterres stresses the importance of education for children and young people, the current authorities in Afghanistan have deprived women and girls of education since taking power. Most recently, they have also closed medical institutes to girls and women, despite the country’s healthcare sector facing a severe shortage of personnel. These actions by the current authorities have resulted in millions of female students being excluded from education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan. The United Nations has previously emphasized that the systematic deprivation of girls from education constitutes a clear violation of human rights, and that its long-term consequences will affect not only Afghanistan but the wider region as well.

The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has recently announced that the EU has provided ten million euros to support the empowerment of Afghan women entrepreneurs. In a statement, the European Union said that the funding will be channeled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch the second phase of the programme titled “Women’s Economic Empowerment through the Development of Local Businesses.” The statement noted: “This project combines Sharia-compliant financial mechanisms that are adapted to local cultural contexts with business development support, mentoring, and linkages to markets.” The EU Delegation emphasized that the project will be implemented in a number of underdeveloped provinces in the central regions and Hazarajat, areas where women’s participation in the labor force is low and access to financial services remains limited. According to the statement, by working through community-based platforms and local market systems, the project seeks to create safe, inclusive, and sustainable opportunities for the participation of women entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, Stephan Rodriques, Head of the United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan, said that the project will support thousands of women and women-led businesses through financial literacy training, access to Sharia-compliant financing, and tailored services. He added that by helping women start and expand sustainable businesses, the project will not only improve their incomes and economic roles, but will also contribute to overall economic recovery and the creation of much-needed employment across Afghanistan. It is worth noting that since the return to power of the caretaker government, the European Union has been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that United Nations agencies, at the Davos meeting in Switzerland, warned that rising hunger and displacement are not only humanitarian crises but also growing threats to global economic stability. In a statement, the WFP said that currently 318 million people worldwide are facing acute hunger or worse. The statement warned that severe funding shortages have limited the organization’s ability to deliver assistance at a time when needs are rapidly increasing. The WFP emphasized that, based on current estimates, less than half of the organization’s requested $13 billion budget will be funded—meaning it will be able to assist only about 110 million people. Quoting Rania Dagash-Kamara, Deputy Executive Director of the WFP, the statement said: “Hunger fuels displacement, conflict, and instability—phenomena that not only threaten human lives but also disrupt the very markets that businesses depend on.” She added that the world cannot build stable markets on the existence of 318 million hungry people. Ms. Dagash-Kamara, who is attending the Davos meeting in Switzerland, said that the private sector has a direct stake in addressing food insecurity and called on companies to invest in supply chains, technology, and innovation. The World Food Programme has urged leaders and investors at Davos to keep hunger and food security among their top priorities. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also called on political and economic leaders at Davos to reconsider migration—not as a burden or pressure, but as a driver of economic growth. Amy Pope, Director General of the IOM, said: “Migration, if responsibly managed, is one of the most powerful drivers of development.”