United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has recently announced that nearly one-third of Afghan migrants returning to the country are women and girls. In a newly published report, the organization stated that children under the age of 17—particularly unaccompanied and separated children—are in urgent need of protection support as well as psychosocial services. The report notes that returnees without official documentation face serious obstacles in accessing basic services, livelihood opportunities, and legal assistance, leaving them in a highly vulnerable situation. UNAMA further emphasized that immediate priorities include providing shelter, strengthening food security, supporting livelihoods, and implementing sustainable reintegration programs. The international body warned that the absence of long-term support could heighten the risk of increased vulnerability and social instability, stressing that sustained funding for humanitarian assistance is essential. Some time ago, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced that, according to available data, more than 2.8 million migrants returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries in 2025. In its report, UNDP stated that this influx—largely from neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan—has added further strain to a country already in a fragile condition and grappling with the consequences of decades of instability and recent natural disasters.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights, has recently stated that Afghanistan’s health sector is facing a severe shortage of female doctors. Today (Wednesday, February 25), in his report on the status of Afghan women’s and girls’ access to healthcare services, Bennett said that women make up only 27 percent of general physicians, 18 percent of specialist doctors, and 29 percent of nurses. In his report, he emphasized that the policies of Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, which target women’s education, employment, mobility, and participation in public life, are inflicting deep and lasting damage on the country’s healthcare system. The report states that the ban on medical education in 2024 has not only disrupted current service delivery but has fundamentally undermined the future sustainability of the health sector. This comes despite the fact that medical institutes were open to women and girls until last year, but were closed by order of the leader of the current authorities. Bennett further added that by restricting access to medical, nursing, midwifery, and other health-related education, the de facto authorities are effectively dismantling the system. The report also notes that women working in the health sector are retiring, migrating, or being forcibly dismissed, leaving entire communities—especially in rural and underserved areas—without trained personnel capable of providing safe and acceptable care. It is worth mentioning that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities deprived women and girls of education. This action has left millions of schoolgirls out of school. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Human Rights Watch, in its latest statement as part of a campaign calling for the reopening of schools to girls above the sixth grade, has declared that justice begins at the school gates. In a statement published on Tuesday (25 February), the organization said that 1,620 days have passed since schools and education beyond the sixth grade were closed to girls—days that represent thousands of buried dreams and a future taken away from a generation. Afghanistan Human Rights Watch further emphasized that silence in the face of the ban on girls’ and women’s education amounts to accepting injustice. In another part of its statement, the organization called for broad public support for girls’ right to education and for lifting the ban on education beyond the sixth grade for girls in Afghanistan. This call comes as the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, deprived women and girls of 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 is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of female students 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

The Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan has recently announced that by establishing community-based classes in villages across Afghanistan, it is expanding citizens’ access to educational services. On Tuesday (24 February), sharing the story of a classroom in a village in central Afghanistan on its X account, the organization wrote that before the establishment of the EU-supported class, residents of the village had no access to educational services. One of the village residents told the European Union that his children can now study in warm classrooms in their own village. He added that with the cash assistance he received from the EU, he is able to meet his family’s heating needs and provide warm clothing for his children. It is worth noting that the European Union has allocated millions of euros this year to support the expansion of educational services in underserved areas of Afghanistan. Through community-based classroom structures, it is facilitating access to education for citizens. It should be noted that tens of thousands of children and adolescents in remote parts of Afghanistan currently lack access to educational services due to the absence of formal educational centers or their long distance from such facilities. Poverty has also been cited as a major barrier preventing citizens from accessing education. While the European Union emphasizes the importance of education, the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education.

The European Union Delegation has recently announced that it continues to support Afghan women and girls in various sectors to help them expand their businesses. Today (Monday, February 23), the EU shared the story of a young woman named Fariha on its X account. She received financial support from the “Innovative Women’s Savings Group” program funded by the European Union. With this assistance, she was able to expand her tailoring workshop. The European Union further emphasized that Fariha initially had only one sewing machine, but now she owns four machines, and 16 other women are working in her workshop. In part of the story, the EU Delegation noted that these women are expanding their businesses, creating job opportunities, and supporting their community. It is worth mentioning that the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within the framework of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Program, are working to support local women-led small businesses to help women achieve economic self-reliance. While the European Union continues to support Afghan women’s businesses, the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. These measures have resulted in millions of female students being 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

UN Women has announced in the latest case that it is supporting Afghan refugee women who have returned from Iran and Pakistan in cooperation with the Government of Japan. The organization posted a statement on its X account today (Sunday, March 23) that $826,666 has been allocated to support women returnees. In part of its statement, UN Women emphasized that this initiative is trying to rebuild the lives of women returnees in Afghanistan. The statement states that these services will be provided to women and girls in eastern and southern Afghanistan. The UN further added: “This project will provide livelihood assistance and support and protection services through the creation of safe spaces for women, and will help maintain their dignity, ensure security and sustainable recovery.” International organizations have also reported that in 2025 alone, more than 2.5 million Afghan citizens returned from Iran and Pakistan, 42 percent of whom are women and children. Women and girls who are deported from Iran and Pakistan also face restrictions on education, work, and personal freedoms in Afghanistan. In addition, employment for men has also decreased sharply, and the Afghan people are facing a food crisis.

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.