UN Women in Afghanistan has announced that women and girls with disabilities in the country face serious barriers and are being “overlooked” by both families and society. On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the agency wrote in a statement posted on its X account: “According to United Nations estimates, women are 20 percent more likely than men to report living with a disability, and nearly one in six women has a severe disability.” The statement emphasizes the “urgent and often overlooked needs of women and girls with disabilities” in Afghanistan. Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, further stressed that women and girls with disabilities in Afghanistan face the harshest discrimination and the greatest barriers in accessing the support and services necessary to live with dignity. She added that the increase in the number of women with disabilities in Afghanistan is attributed to factors such as growing barriers to access health services and humanitarian assistance, increased risks of gender-based violence, and the deep psychological impacts of restrictions on their rights. UN Women stated: “While nearly half of Afghanistan’s population will need humanitarian assistance in 2025, many women and girls with disabilities face difficulties reaching aid distribution centers.” The agency also said that based on a survey of more than 2,000 women conducted this year, three-quarters of them described their mental health condition as “bad” or “very bad.” UN Women further emphasized in part of its statement the urgent need for immediate investment in support and services for women and girls with disabilities in Afghanistan, and called for expanded humanitarian services to meet their needs. Meanwhile, UNAMA has said that around 1.5 million people in Afghanistan live with serious disabilities, many of which are the consequences of decades of war. The organization added that children with disabilities bear the heaviest burden of war-related disabilities.

UN Women has recently stated that women’s rights defenders in Afghanistan are exposed to significant personal risks. In a message shared on its X account on the occasion of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, the agency wrote that women’s rights defenders in Afghanistan continue to organize and protect their communities, even though they often face serious personal dangers. UN Women described Afghan women and girls as courageous. The organization emphasized that it will continue to support women and girls in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Human Rights Activists, marking the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women,” also stated that supporting women’s rights is a top priority in efforts to combat violence against women in Afghanistan. The organization stressed that Afghan women and girls have faced the harshest restrictions and silencing policies over the past four years. Furthermore, since taking control of Afghanistan, the current government has banned women and girls from education. Its latest restriction closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of staff. This action by the current authorities has left millions of school-aged girls deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a mahram, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as UN offices in Afghanistan.

While schools and universities remain closed to girls and women, the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has recently stated that it supports the training of women and girls as medical professionals. In a message posted today (Tuesday, Dec 2) on its X account during the campaign against violence against women, the Delegation wrote that the EU supports the provision of healthcare services in Afghanistan so that women, girls, and mothers can receive essential care. The EU Delegation further emphasized that taking action to end violence is crucial to ensuring safe and accessible healthcare services for all. It is worth noting that the restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities on women’s and girls’ education have had a direct impact on Afghanistan’s health sector. The shortage of professional female staff in Afghanistan’s health facilities has worsened, as no female doctor has graduated from Afghan universities in the past four years. Afghanistan also continues to have one of the highest maternal and women’s mortality rates in the world. The current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have barred women and girls from education and schooling. This decision has prevented millions of female students from continuing their studies. In addition, women have been prohibited from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a mahram, and working in national and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has recently announced that families in northern Afghanistan are facing serious challenges in accessing free and quality medical care for their children. In a report released by the organization, it stated that the shortage of health centers, economic difficulties, and the long distance to medical facilities have had a negative impact on hundreds of thousands of patients. Part of the report notes that families in northern Afghanistan are forced to travel to remote areas and other cities to find proper treatment. In many cases, children do not recover even after spending large amounts of money and must be taken to another medical facility. MSF emphasized that accounts from mothers of sick children in Faryab, Dawlatabad, Andkhoy, and Mazar-e-Sharif show that measles, pneumonia, malnutrition, and infectious diseases are among the conditions placing children in critical situations. In some cases, only Abu Ali Sina Hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif has been able to provide free services. The organization added that in the past two years, it has strengthened this hospital by establishing pediatric intensive care units, neonatal intensive care units, a measles isolation ward, and an emergency department in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. Within just one month, hundreds of critically ill children have been brought to this regional hospital. According to the report, MSF medical teams have so far triaged more than 360,000 patients and provided medical care for thousands of children, newborns, and patients suffering from measles, pneumonia, malnutrition, and infectious diseases. The organization says that on average, around 3,000 children are triaged every week in this hospital, and critical cases are quickly transferred to specialized units. MSF warns that the lack of a clear and effective referral system between health centers is one of the main factors worsening patients’ conditions. It is worth noting that after the November 3 earthquake in Mazar-e-Sharif this year, emergency aid and medical supplies were also sent to Abu Ali Sina Hospital. Doctors Without Borders states that continued international support is essential to reduce preventable deaths, prevent the exhaustion of healthcare workers, and ensure medical services for children.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently stated that without access to the internet, women and girls in Afghanistan cannot benefit from essential and life-saving services. Today (Monday, December 1), the organization published a message on its X account, stating that internet restrictions reduce the ability of women and girls to make informed decisions about their lives and futures. The UN Women’s section also released a report indicating that weak infrastructure and low literacy limit Afghan citizens' access to phones and the internet. The organization emphasized that women and girls face even greater barriers, as social and cultural norms restrict their access to digital services. Additionally, the United Nations has announced that any disruption of internet and phone networks in Afghanistan poses serious challenges to the lives of women and girls. It should be noted that the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. 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 unable to receive an education. Moreover, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

UN Women has recently announced that organizations supporting women and girls in Afghanistan are facing funding shortages, yet they continue their efforts to assist survivors of violence. The organization stated today (Sunday, November 30) in a message posted on its X account on the occasion of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” that it continues to support women at risk. UN Women further emphasized that organizations supporting women and girls have lost about one-fifth of their budget this year. According to the statement, due to cuts in assistance, women’s support organizations have received less than 60% of the funding they need. This decline in funding comes at a time when Afghan women and girls are facing increasing restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities. Meanwhile, over the past two years, violence against Afghan women has increased by 40%. The current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have also barred women and girls from education and schooling. Most recently, they closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has resulted in millions of school-age girls being deprived of education.

The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has recently announced that it supports the education of girls and women in the country. The delegation wrote today (Saturday, November 29) in a message on its X account, posted on the occasion of “OrangeTheWorld,” that education for all is the key to reducing vulnerability. The EU Delegation further stressed, with an emphasis on education, the importance of building a future free from all forms of violence. The EU highlights the importance of girls’ education at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan faces a severe shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of female students unable to continue their education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the United Nations says that violence against Afghan women and girls has increased by 40 percent over the past two years.