The United Nations Human Rights Watch has announced that restrictions on the activities and presence of women and girls in the media within Afghanistan have become more severe. On Thursday, Oct 23, this organization published a report stating that only a few women and girl journalists are active in Kabul and Herat provinces, while in most provinces, there are no female journalists working in the media. Human Rights Watch reported, citing women journalists, that in rural areas, they must have a male guardian when traveling for work and are also not allowed to speak with officials of the interim government. A section of the Human Rights Watch report states: "Media outlets have reported that officials from the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice regularly visit media organizations to check compliance with regulations, particularly regarding the segregation of workplaces for men and women and ensuring that women wear hijab." The report also mentions that male journalists face serious restrictions when it comes to speaking with women. Furthermore, it states that the current government has forced female journalists to adhere to their prescribed dress code and has banned the broadcasting of series and programs featuring women. Fereshteh Abbasi, a researcher in the Afghanistan section of Human Rights Watch, said: "While all journalists in Afghanistan have been affected and many have left the country, women journalists have been impacted the most." This comes as the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has declared the voice, appearance, and presence of women as prohibited. Additionally, since regaining control over Afghanistan, the current government has imposed extensive restrictions on media activities and journalists. These restrictions have led to the shutdown of many media outlets and caused a significant number of journalists to leave the country.

Officials from the Afghan Muay Thai Federation have stated that the national Muay Thai team, consisting of three female athletes, two coaches, and one official, is participating in the third edition of the Youth Asian Games 2025 in Manama, Bahrain. The Afghan Muay Thai Federation announced that, according to the schedule, the Muay Thai competitions will take place from October 21 to November 4, 2025, in Manama. The statement mentioned that in this edition of the Youth Asian Games, over eight thousand athletes from 45 Asian countries will compete in 24 sports disciplines. While the Afghan girls' Muay Thai team is participating in this competition, it is important to note that since the current government's takeover, strict laws have been imposed against women; their presence in stadiums is banned, and participation in many sports disciplines for women has been prohibited. Additionally, the current 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 and women, while the healthcare sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being unable to pursue education and schooling.

Seyed Malek Hosseini, the Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Employment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has recently announced that the country has started issuing work visas, particularly for Afghans. The IRNA news agency reported that Mr. Hosseini made these statements during the second meeting of the "Specialized Commission of the Supreme Employment Council," stating that the issuance of these visas began on October 1 in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior. The Deputy Minister of Labor emphasized that employers can register their requests through the "Employment System for Foreign Nationals." He further added that the primary priority is given to Iranian job seekers; however, in the absence of Iranian workers, foreign workers will be issued a nine-month visa in the first year. Based on the performance of foreign labor and the supply conditions of Iranian labor, there is a possibility for reissuance for the following year upon the employer's request. Mr. Hosseini clarified that according to an agreement with the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a maximum of 200,000 work visas will be issued in the first year, with the main goal being "to clarify and monitor the legal workforce of foreign nationals to prevent illegal entry." The Deputy Minister of Labor stated: "We will only allow the use of foreign labor if there are no Iranian workers available for that job position." This announcement comes as Mohammad Reza Bahrami, the Director General of South Asian Affairs at Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously mentioned in a meeting with the Afghan Minister of Refugees that 200,000 work visas would be issued for Afghan citizens. While Iranian officials announce the commencement of work visa issuance for Afghan workers, embassies and consulates in Afghanistan are currently not issuing visas for Afghan citizens. Following the expiration of the voluntary departure deadline for Afghan migrants, Iran has halted the normal issuance of visas for Afghan citizens.

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.