UN Women has recently announced that the rate of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan is rapidly rising, and millions of women and girls are in urgent need of support and protection. The organization said in a report published day (Thursday, 27 November) that in less than two years, the number of women and girls facing serious risks has increased by 40 percent. UN Women emphasized in part of its report that reduced financial assistance has forced the organization to limit essential services for addressing gender-based violence in Afghanistan. The organization added that currently around 14 million women are in need of support services. According to the UN Women report, women-led local organizations in Afghanistan have lost about one-fifth of their funding. UN Women stated that with the collapse of previous support systems following the return to power of the de facto authorities, millions of women have nowhere to turn, and access to essential services has become severely restricted. The report comes at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has barred women and girls from education and schooling. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has prevented millions of school-age girls from continuing their education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical examinations from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs, and even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, UN Women has recently stated that women and girls in Afghanistan are in need of global support and solidarity. The organization wrote in a message posted today (Tuesday, Nov, 25) on its X account that renewing global solidarity and protecting the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan is essential. UN Women also emphasized in part of its message the need for flexible financial resources to address gender-based violence and to support local, women-led organizations. The organization further stressed that safe and inclusive access to digital spaces for women is also important for empowerment and reducing violence. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations has called on the world to stand with women and girls in Afghanistan—“today and every day”—and to support their rights. This comes as the United Nations continues to support the rights of Afghan women and girls, while the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has banned women and girls from 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 is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being 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, and working in national and international NGOs, as well as even UN offices in Afghanistan.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has recently warned that prolonged drought could deprive countless families and children of clean water, their most basic need. The organization stated in a post on its X account that, in cooperation with South Korea, it is constructing water supply systems in 20 areas of Ghor and Helmand provinces. UNICEF has identified access to sustainable water supply systems for families and children as one of the key solutions to addressing this challenge. The organization had previously warned that more than half of the water sources in key provinces have dried up, and 80 percent of Afghanistan’s population uses contaminated and unsafe water for drinking. UNICEF also said that currently, only 5 percent of the required budget for providing access to safe and disaster-resilient water and sanitation systems in Afghanistan is available. The UN Children’s Fund further warned that the impacts of climate change—such as drought, sudden floods, and earthquakes—are undermining the health, nutrition, and abilities of Afghan children. UNICEF had earlier warned that by 2030, Kabul’s water resources will be completely depleted. It is worth mentioning that most schoolchildren in Afghanistan do not have access to safe drinking water. Meanwhile, the Red Cross Committee stated on World Water Day that 33 million people in Afghanistan lack access to safe drinking water. Additionally, UNICEF added in a previous report that it provided safe drinking water in 25 districts of eastern Afghanistan in 2023 and 2024.

Amnesty International USA has recently announced that its annual award has been granted to Pashtana Durrani, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, and Jazmín Romero Epiayu, a representative of a Colombian feminist movement. On Saturday (Qaws 1), Amnesty International said in a statement that the award is given to courageous women who work under difficult circumstances to protect the rights of women and children. The award includes a $20,000 grant. According to the statement, Pashtana Durrani works in the field of girls’ education under the current government and operates the “Learn” school underground. Pashtana Durrani is a Harvard graduate and the founder of the “Learn” school — the first digital school in Afghanistan, which now operates underground to protect Afghan girls. She emphasized: “This award belongs to every Afghan girl who still dreams of learning and every woman who refuses to give up her rights.” She is also the author of the memoir The Last Person Who Eats, the Last Person Who Learns, and has previously received several awards, including the Malala Fund’s Global Education Champion Award and the BBC’s 100 Women Award. The other winner, Jazmín Romero Epiayu, is a representative of the feminist movement for girls and women of the Wayuu people in Colombia. The Wayuu are one of the Indigenous communities of northern Colombia and Venezuela, known for their deep-rooted traditions, connection to nature, and colorful handicrafts. By combining the traditional knowledge of the Wayuu people with modern methods, Jazmín Romero defends the rights of women and girls, as well as the protection of Indigenous lands against violence and illegal resource extraction. This award is being presented to Pashtana at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has barred women and girls from education. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. These actions by the current government have left millions of school-age girls 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, and working in domestic and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

International media have reported that Somaye Ramesh, a poet, writer, and former member of the Herat Provincial Council, has won Italy’s international literary award, the “Laudomia Bonanni” Prize. Ms. Ramesh announced today (Saturday, Nov. 22) that she received the International Poetry Award at the 24th edition of this literary event. According to the report, this prize is among the most prestigious literary awards in Italy and is presented annually with the participation of national and international writers and researchers. After receiving the international poetry award, Somaye Ramesh stated: “This honor is not only for me; it is an honor for the women of Afghanistan who have challenged the system of oppression.” She said that the prize was awarded to her for the publication of her book titled “The Word in Exile” and her “civil” activism. She further emphasized that in Afghanistan, even writing is considered a crime for women, yet they continue to fight alone against oppression and gender apartheid. It is worth noting that in another ceremony organized by Italy’s Ministry of Justice as part of the National Literary Poetry Prize, Somaye Ramesh’s literary contributions were also recognized. The Laudomia Bonanni Literary Prize is one of Italy’s most significant literary awards, held every year with the participation of national and international writers and researchers. Somaye Ramesh wins this international poetry award at a time when the interim government in Afghanistan has banned romantic poetry and the depiction of boys and girls in poems, warning that violators will be punished. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the current government has deprived women and girls of education. Most recently, it closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, even though the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action has caused millions of female students to be excluded from education. In addition, women have been prohibited from going to gyms, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both national and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

Samira Asghari, the youngest member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has emphasized the need for dialogue with Afghanistan’s interim government in order to bring girls and women back into sports. Asghari, now 31 and living in Europe, made these remarks in an interview with The Guardian, stating that her main goal is “to end the severe restrictions on women’s sports in Afghanistan”—a goal she believes can only be achieved through negotiations with the current authorities. She further stressed: “My message to all Afghan women is that if there is even a small opportunity to participate in sports, don’t miss it. Never give up.” Asghari says her focus is to ensure that by the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, conditions are created for the development of sports in schools and for providing sports facilities for Afghan girls. The IOC member added that if girls’ primary schools are equipped with sports gear and trained coaches, a new generation will be able to become familiar with sports such as futsal, basketball, and taekwondo. She acknowledged that negotiating with the interim government faces widespread criticism, but she considers it “necessary.” “The current government violates human rights—this is a fact; but we cannot ignore Afghan girls. We must engage in dialogue to find a way for women to return to sports,” she said. The International Olympic Committee has been in talks with the current Afghan sports authorities since December 2022 to reduce restrictions on women’s sports. Asghari made these comments in Riyadh during the Islamic Solidarity Games, where Afghanistan sent 76 athletes—most of them migrants and exiles—to compete. This number is a sharp contrast to the six-member team introduced last year for the Paris Olympics. Afghanistan also won its first-ever gold medal in these competitions. Mohammad Yousuf Jahangir became the champion in Muay Thai. Asghari says these games could be significant for Afghanistan “both athletically and politically.” She believes that the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, led by Saudi Arabia, could play the role of mediator with Afghanistan’s current government. According to her, with proper investment and planning for athletes, Afghanistan could achieve better results in the 2028 Olympic Games.

The United Nations has recently announced that 12.9 million children across Afghanistan are at risk of measles, diarrhea, and other diseases. In a newly released report, the organization stated that its volunteer teams, along with partners from other organizations, are working to confront this crisis by providing healthcare services to vulnerable children throughout Afghanistan. The UN volunteer team in Afghanistan, which officially operates under the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program, emphasized that access to healthcare services is vital for Afghan children. This warning about the risk of outbreaks of various diseases — including measles and diarrhea — among Afghan children comes as the World Health Organization announced on November 8 that more than 55,000 suspected cases of measles have been reported in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year, with 357 people — mostly children — losing their lives due to the disease. Doctors Without Borders had also previously reported that one child in Afghanistan dies every day from measles. Additionally, UNICEF had earlier stated that by July of this year, a total of over 100,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea and 48 related deaths had been recorded. UNICEF added that more than half of those infected are children under the age of five.

OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has stated in its latest announcement on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day that women and girls in Afghanistan, after more than four years, continue to face oppressive restrictions. In a newly released report, the agency said that women and girls in Afghanistan are still deprived of education, work, and public life. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs further emphasized that providing humanitarian assistance to women and girls under these circumstances is vital. World Humanitarian Day arrives as half of Afghanistan’s population depends on humanitarian aid for survival. A part of OCHA’s report states: “On this day in particular, the people of Afghanistan are facing multiple and complex crises. In recent months, geopolitical developments and regional tensions have led to the return of nearly two million Afghan citizens from Iran and Pakistan, many of whom have returned involuntarily.” OCHA has also warned about the reduction in humanitarian aid and the ongoing droughts in Afghanistan. This comes as, following the return to power of the current government in Afghanistan, women and girls have been deprived of their most fundamental rights, including education, employment, and individual freedoms. As a result of the current administration’s actions, millions of schoolgirls have been prevented from accessing 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 national and international NGOs, including UN offices in Afghanistan.