Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called for action to address the factors that drive Afghan citizens to undertake such dangerous and desperate journeys in response to the deaths of 19 individuals from the country along smuggling routes to Iran in the Nimroz desert. Mr. Bennett expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in the Nimroz desert through a message on his X account. He emphasized, "This horrific incident highlights the urgent need to seriously address the root causes that push Afghans to undertake such desperate and perilous journeys." This comes in the wake of an incident about two weeks ago, where a group of 19 Afghan citizens seeking to travel illegally to Iran went missing in the Nimroz province. According to available information, the bodies of five individuals were discovered on July 25 in the "Margo" desert, while the bodies of 14 others were found in the "Lalu" sand dunes in Nimroz late last week. Previously, the International Organization for Migration also expressed its condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, stating that every life lost on migration routes is a deep and painful tragedy. Poverty, unemployment, and a lack of suitable living opportunities are among the main factors driving many people toward perilous migration through difficult paths, resulting in numerous Afghan citizens losing their lives each year.

Afghanistan Rights Watch has recently stated that a generation of girls in Afghanistan is still waiting to sit in classrooms. Marking 1,775 days since the ban on education beyond the sixth grade for girls, the organization posted a message on its X account, asserting that the dreams of girls deprived of education have not been extinguished but merely delayed. Afghanistan Rights Watch emphasized that the voices of Afghan girls should not be forgotten and that they must be allowed to return to the classroom. The organization has previously called multiple times for the provision of educational opportunities beyond the sixth grade for girls in Afghanistan. This comes at a time when the interim government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. These actions by the current government have resulted in millions of female students being denied access to education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, receiving examinations by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if this ban continues, nearly four million girls may be deprived of education by 2030.

Georgette Gagnon, the head of UNAMA, once again urged the authorities of the interim government of Afghanistan to lift the restrictions on girls' education and to create opportunities for their return to schooling at all levels. During her visit to the Istalif district of Kabul province, Ms. Gagnon visited a girls' primary school and stated that girls should be able to continue their education and play a role in the development and progress of Afghanistan. A video released by UNAMA shows Ms. Gagnon meeting with local officials and several community leaders during her visit, discussing challenges, economic needs, and educational issues in the Istalif district. During this visit, she also toured a computer lab established with the support of the United Nations at a girls' primary school and emphasized the importance of girls' access to information technology and digital skills. This comes at a time when the interim government has halted education for girls above the sixth grade since regaining power, and in December 2022, also banned girls and women from continuing their studies at universities. Afghanistan is now the only country in the world where girls are deprived of secondary and higher education. According to statistics from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over 2.5 million girls in Afghanistan are denied their right to education, and if this ban continues, their number is expected to exceed four million by 2030. Additionally, UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) has warned that the continuation of these restrictions until 2030 could leave Afghanistan with a shortage of more than 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female health workers. UNICEF states that the ongoing deprivation of girls from education not only harms the educational system but also increases the risks of early marriage, reduces the presence of female professionals in education and health sectors, and raises maternal and infant mortality rates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that severe restrictions on female employees, unprecedented budget shortages, and pressures from simultaneous crises have posed serious challenges to the provision of health services for women and children in Afghanistan. In its annual report on Afghanistan, the organization stated that the interim government's restrictions on travel, education, and the activities of female employees have severely disrupted health service delivery at the community level, disease monitoring, and responses to outbreaks. The report noted that a severe shortage of female doctors and personnel, especially in remote areas, has significantly weakened the quality of health services and women's and children's access to essential care. Additionally, the report mentioned that a drastic reduction in funding has been another major challenge for the health sector in 2025; the humanitarian needs plan received only 45.3 percent of its required budget. It further stated that the budget shortfall has led to the closure of 27 primary health care centers, limiting access to medical services for approximately 294,000 people. The WHO indicated that only 45.3 percent of Afghanistan's humanitarian budget has been secured. Moreover, alongside restrictions and budget shortages, the simultaneous occurrence of earthquakes, droughts, floods, disease outbreaks, and the return of over 2.7 million migrants from Iran and Pakistan has placed extraordinary pressure on Afghanistan's fragile health system. This comes at a time when providing services and monitoring health conditions in hard-to-reach and remote areas, especially during winter, has faced serious obstacles. The World Health Organization emphasized that despite the continued provision of vital services in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan in 2025, the sustainability of these services requires lifting restrictions on female employees and securing sustainable funding.

The Finance and Revenue Committee of the Pakistan Senate has passed a resolution prohibiting the enforcement of mandatory hijab for female employees in Islamic banks. Pakistani media reports indicate that this decision was made following numerous complaints regarding strict dress code guidelines in some banks, particularly Islamic financial institutions. The report states that the committee has called for adherence to conventional national attire for all employees, regardless of their gender. Pakistani senators have emphasized that banks and financial institutions cannot impose the wearing of Arabic hijab or other non-national attire on female employees. Senator Zarqa Sohrawardi Timor stated that female employees in these banks are compelled to wear Arabic hijab, whereas, according to her, there is no such obligation for male employees, who are free to choose their attire. Senator Sherry Rehman stressed that no employee should be forced to wear a specific outfit, stating that Pakistan's national dress, such as shalwar kameez, which former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto also wore, is sufficient for women. Additionally, Jameel Ahmad, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, mentioned in the meeting that similar guidelines had been issued and communicated to banks last year. He committed to sending updated guidelines to all Islamic banks and financial institutions to prevent "unnecessary pressure" on female employees. The meeting was chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, and the Finance and Revenue Committee requested all banks to present their policies regarding women's attire to the Senate. The committee emphasized that the goal is solely to uphold conventional national dress, with no insistence on any specific clothing. While Pakistan, as an Islamic country neighboring Afghanistan, prohibits mandatory hijab for employees of Islamic banks, the interim government in Afghanistan continues to detain women for not adhering to its prescribed hijab requirements.

The United Nations Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (UN STFA) has recently announced that in 2025, it supported 2,656 Afghan women in developing businesses and starting income-generating activities. In a message published on its X account, the organization stated that this support has provided women with the opportunity to enhance their economic activities by receiving training, facilities, and necessary resources. The UN emphasized that these support programs have enabled some women to establish or expand their small businesses, thereby generating income for themselves and their families. This comes at a time when, following the takeover by the interim government, women in Afghanistan are facing widespread restrictions on work and economic activities. However, some international organizations are supporting programs that promote small businesses and income-generating activities for women to help sustain family livelihoods. Additionally, since taking control of Afghanistan, the interim government has deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it has closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, while the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of education. Moreover, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as even at UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if this ban continues, nearly four million girls may be deprived of education by 2030.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says an Afghan migrant woman suffered a miscarriage after Pakistani police raided her home and detained her husband, causing severe psychological distress and fear. The organization, in a statement, called on the Pakistani government to halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants and ensure their access to healthcare services. MSF said fear of arrest and deportation has prevented many Afghan migrants in Pakistan from seeking medical care, worsening their health conditions. The organization published the account of an Afghan migrant family in which Najib, the husband, said Pakistani police entered his home and detained him despite holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card. “My wife was three months pregnant when the police arrested me. When I was released and returned home the next day, she was still terrified. She told me that she had experienced heavy bleeding because of the stress and fear,” Najib told MSF. According to Najib, following the incident, the family took his wife to a hospital despite fears of being arrested again. However, doctors were unable to prevent the miscarriage. MSF said Afghan migrants in Pakistan are caught between the fear of arrest, loss of income and the risk of forced deportation. The organization urged the Pakistani government to ensure that patients and people in need of medical care are not arrested or deported while travelling to or from healthcare facilities. The statement also said that pressure caused by forced deportations has resulted in the loss of employment and income for migrants, contributing to rising malnutrition among children in these families. According to MSF, after a healthcare center became operational in Quetta, Balochistan, it found that 7.6 percent of Afghan migrant women and children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while 25.7 percent were affected by moderate acute malnutrition. Pakistan began a large-scale campaign to deport Afghan migrants in 2023 and has since returned more than 2.5 million Afghans to the country.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reports that freedom of expression and working conditions for media and journalists continue to face restrictions, with 10 media outlets shutting down and four journalists being arrested over the past three months. In a report published the organization stated that from April 1 to the end of June, four journalists were arrested by government intelligence. Three media outlets were shut down by the government, and seven were forced to cease operations due to an inability to secure financial resources for their licenses. One media outlet was able to resume operations after changing its leadership. The UNAMA report noted that on April 11 in Khost city, the Department of Information and Culture and the Department of Education halted the educational programs of Radio "Long," stating that these programs did not comply with the educational curriculum. The United Nations emphasized that on May 17 in Bamiyan city, the General Directorate of Intelligence issued an order to stop the activities of "Radio Bamiyan." This radio station was accused of operating without a "valid license." Radio Bamiyan resumed its activities on June 23. Additionally, it was mentioned that on June 21, the Ministry of Information and Culture allowed "Rahi Farda" television to resume broadcasting after changing its leadership (owner and responsible director). According to the UN report, this network had been suspended on February 28 of this year due to statements made by its owner, Mohammad Muhaqiq. UNAMA indicates that during this period, at least seven radio stations in Kandahar and Ghazni provinces were unable to continue their operations due to "inability to meet financial commitments" and other "requirements related to obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses." The human rights section of UNAMA documented that in May in Kabul city, the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence arrested three journalists in two separate incidents. UNAMA did not clarify the fate of these journalists. However, in May, Javid Niazi, a journalist from the news agency Pegar, and Mansour Niazi and Omran Danesh from Tolo News were arrested. The Tolo News journalists were released on May 26, while Javid Niazi was freed on July 7.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has announced the expansion of the "Strong Families" program to prevent drug abuse in Afghanistan, providing support to 1,668 families, including 812 women and 676 girls in the provinces of Logar and Ghazni. In a message posted on its X account, the agency stated that this program has been launched with the support of the UN's special trust fund for Afghanistan. Part of the announcement noted that this program focuses on preventing drug abuse by strengthening parenting skills and teaching family skills. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, this program helps enhance social cohesion in communities facing various challenges by strengthening positive relationships within families. The agency further emphasized that empowering families and reinforcing parental roles are crucial strategies for preventing drug abuse and reducing social harms. It is worth mentioning that Afghanistan is one of the countries still grappling with the widespread challenge of drug abuse and its social and economic consequences. UN agencies have repeatedly warned in recent years that poverty, unemployment, displacement, humanitarian crises, and limited access to support services have increased the risk of turning to drug abuse.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has announced that the morality police of the caretaker government are monitoring health centers and shops to prevent the presence of women without a male guardian. In its latest report on the human rights situation, released the organization stated that the morality police in Kandahar instructed cosmetic shops and other women's goods stores not to sell any products to women without a male guardian. The report noted that on May 21, during a visit to a health center in the Deh Rawood district, the Taliban's morality police emphasized that female patients without a male guardian should not benefit from health services. The report also mentioned that the morality police stated that female health workers must also be accompanied by a male guardian during working hours. UNAMA highlighted that government forces in Logar also warned a woman who had come to the market to buy food that she should not come without a male guardian again. UNAMA stressed that government forces slapped the shopkeeper who sold goods to this woman and detained him. It was reported that this shopkeeper was released after signing a written commitment not to sell goods to women without a male guardian in the future. Additionally, in June, in Badakhshan province, morality police interrogated women who had come to the market for shopping because they were without a male guardian and did not have "appropriate hijab."