Gilles Bertrand, the European Union's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has stated that the human rights situation in the country—particularly concerning women—is alarming. He made these remarks following the conclusion of his six-day visit to Afghanistan, saying that decisions banning women and girls from working in UN offices send a “negative signal” to the international community. In his statement, Bertrand emphasized the EU’s support for media freedom in Afghanistan. He also expressed concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and called on both Pakistan and the Taliban-led interim government to show restraint, protect civilians, and resume dialogue. The statement notes that the current government’s restrictions on implementing agencies have made humanitarian aid delivery more costly and difficult, urging the authorities to reconsider these limitations. It also refers to the challenges surrounding the return of millions of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries and announces that the EU will increase its assistance for returnees in 2025. Bertrand further reaffirmed the EU’s support for international dialogues led by the United Nations aimed at achieving peace and inclusive governance in Afghanistan. According to the statement, the European Union has spent over €1.8 billion on humanitarian aid, health, education, and economic development in Afghanistan since 2021. These concerns come as international organizations have repeatedly called on the current Afghan authorities to respect human rights—especially women’s rights—and to form an inclusive government since their return to power.

The United Nations has recently stated that every woman and girl has the right to feel safe in any place. In a message posted on its official X account today (Sunday, October 19), the UN said that governments must invest in preventing gender-based violence. The organization further emphasized that governments should properly enforce laws and put an end to impunity. It is worth mentioning that the UN made these remarks at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan are facing severe oppression. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the current government has deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it has closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls — despite the country’s health sector suffering from a shortage of personnel. This move by the current authorities has left millions of female students unable to continue their education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices across Afghanistan.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has recently expressed concern over the rising levels of global hunger and called on the international community to take urgent action to create fair and sustainable food systems. Mr. Guterres, in a message posted early Thursday morning (October 16 / 24 Mizan) on his X account to mark World Food Day, wrote that more than 673 million people around the world go to bed hungry every night, a situation that requires global solidarity. He further emphasized that countries must work together across borders, sectors, and societies to build systems that both nourish people and protect the planet. In another part of his message, the UN Secretary-General urged governments, international organizations, and the private sector to increase their financial resources and political commitments to end hunger and improve food security. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that about 9.5 million people in Afghanistan are struggling with food insecurity. The agency warned that this number could rise in the coming months. The WFP also stressed that it is currently facing a $622 million funding shortfall for the next six months, and if this situation continues, the distribution of aid could face serious disruptions starting in November this year.

The United Nations Women’s Section has recently called for bold action to promote equality and empower rural women and girls in Afghanistan. In a statement released on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, the organization said: “Rural women and girls feed communities every day, protect the environment, and strengthen sustainable development.” The UN Women’s Section further emphasized that rural women and girls have been leading collective movements for change for generations. It added that by the year 2030, around 351 million women and girls worldwide will still be living in extreme poverty. According to various media reports, women and girls in Afghanistan’s rural areas, in addition to raising children and performing household tasks, make up a significant part of the agricultural workforce. However, the interim government across the country has imposed restrictions on women and girls. Currently, they are not allowed to receive education beyond grade six, work in national or international organizations, or move freely in public.

A new book titled "Until Further Notice: Untold Truths of Afghan Women's Resistance for Freedom," authored by Manizha Ramizy, a former university teacher in Kabul and a human rights activist, was launched at the Turkish Writers' Center. The unveiling ceremony of this book took place on Monday, October 13, and it examines the situation of Afghan women after the fall of the republic, emphasizing advocacy, awareness-raising, and the struggle for women's rights to education and work. Manizha Ramizy, the author of this book, stated in a press release on her X account: "The book 'Until Further Notice' is dedicated to all the women who continue to fight for their right to education, work, and freedom in Afghanistan despite threats, pressure, and discrimination. They are the most inspiring figures of civil resistance in this current dark period." The statement mentioned that this work, produced in collaboration with the "Global Network Against Extremism," addresses four main themes: the history of women's struggles, the achievements of the past twenty years, the consequences of deprivation from education and work after 2021, and women's efforts for Afghanistan's future. Research conducted for this book shows that after August 15, 2021, more than 2.2 million girls have been barred from attending school, and around 100,000 women have been deprived of higher education. Additionally, the findings of this book indicate that increased poverty, forced marriages, suicides, and mental health issues are direct consequences of the restrictions imposed on women. While this book criticizes the current situation, the existing government has deprived women and girls of education and schooling since taking control of Afghanistan. In its latest restriction, the government closed the doors of medical institutes to girls, despite the healthcare sector in Afghanistan facing a shortage of personnel. This government's action has resulted in millions of female students being unable to pursue their 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 both domestic and international NGOs as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have announced that since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the de facto authorities of Afghanistan have deprived around 2.2 million adolescent girls of education. In a joint report on the state of education in Afghanistan, the organizations stated that each school year, an estimated 397,000 children drop out and are unable to continue their studies. According to the report, by 2024, more than 2.13 million primary school–aged children were out of school, 60 percent of whom are girls. The report further notes that Afghanistan’s education sector is under immense pressure due to multiple, simultaneous humanitarian shocks. It adds that by 2025, an estimated 8.9 million children, including 888,000 children with disabilities, will require emergency education support. At the same time, around 2.7 million Afghans have been expelled from Iran and Pakistan since 2023, and 40 percent of them are children. The report highlights that many of the returning children, especially girls over the age of 12, face serious difficulties enrolling in schools due to a lack of infrastructure and existing restrictions. UNICEF and UNESCO warn that the return of migrants is placing additional strain on Afghanistan’s education system and increasing the number of children and adolescents out of school. The report also states that since taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have banned women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to female students, even as the health sector faces severe staff shortages. This policy has resulted in millions of school-aged girls being denied education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical care from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working with domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices across Afghanistan.