The organization Women for Afghanistan has recently announced that Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will name a room after Afghan women and girls. In a statement, the organization said that Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, made this announcement at the “Listen to Us” meeting. The Spanish foreign minister emphasized that the room will be named in honor of the struggle and resistance of Afghan women and girls. The organization further noted that this room is the same venue where the first round of the “Listen to Us” meeting was held in 2022, during which a photograph was taken of the Afghan women participants. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the organization Women for Afghanistan, hosted the “Listen to Us” meeting to follow up on mechanisms for holding the de facto authorities accountable. Women for Afghanistan also stated that around 50 women activists from Afghanistan participated in the meeting. During the meeting, Spain’s foreign minister reiterated his support for Afghan women and girls and said that his country will never recognize the current authorities. After taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have deprived women and girls of education. Most recently, they closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan is facing a severe shortage of personnel. These actions by the current authorities have resulted in millions of female students being denied access to education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has emphasized the right of women and girls in Afghanistan to access education on the occasion of Human Rights Day. In a message posted on its X account, the organization stated that Afghan girls and women have been deprived of education for more than four years. UNICEF stressed in its message that education is the right of all women and girls and is essential for their growth, health, and protection. At the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, UNICEF also called for the voices of adolescent girls in Afghanistan to be heard, adding that their voices are often ignored. This comes as the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has barred women and girls from education. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of school-aged girls deprived of learning and education. Additionally, 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 in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Tom Fletcher, the UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned about the decline in aid to people in need in Afghanistan, saying that 1.7 million children are at risk of death. Fletcher made these remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, stating that the severe reduction in funding has pushed humanitarian aid efforts in Afghanistan into a major crisis, and that this winter will be the first winter almost without food distribution. He emphasized that the number of aid recipients has decreased from 5.6 million people last year to one million this year. According to him, 1.1 million children have been deprived of lifesaving nutrition, as 305 nutrition service centers have been closed. The UN official further warned that out of 3.7 million children in need of nutritional support, 1.7 million are at risk of death if they do not receive treatment. He added that 422 health centers were closed in 2025, leaving three million people without access to essential healthcare. Fletcher called on donors to continue their support for Afghanistan. He noted that nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan will need assistance in 2026, placing the country third after Sudan and Yemen. Fletcher said: “Our appeal is for $1.7 billion to target 17.5 million people. But in response to funding realities, we have further prioritized our plan to target 3.9 million people who are in urgent need of lifesaving assistance.” He also stated that, for the first time in four years, the number of people facing hunger has increased, now reaching 17.4 million. According to him, essential services — which were already insufficient and inconsistent — have reached a point of collapse due to the unprecedented return of migrants.

The Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization has stated that attacks by ISIS–Khorasan Province against Hazaras and Shia communities in Afghanistan may, under international law, amount to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In a newly published investigative report, the organization says it has examined ISIS attacks on Hazaras and Shias in Afghanistan since 2016. According to the report, ISIS–Khorasan refers to Hazaras as “apostates” and “rejectors” and targets them in educational, health, sports, and religious centers. The report notes that from 2015 to 2020, ISIS–Khorasan carried out 21 suicide attacks, and from 2021 to 2024, three suicide attacks against Hazaras and Shias. The Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization further emphasizes that between 2015 and 2020 this group carried out 14 bombings, and from 2021 to 2024 it conducted 54 bombing attacks against Hazaras and Shias. The organization says ISIS–Khorasan consistently uses hate speech and terms such as “rejector, polytheist, infidel, and apostate” against Hazaras, using this language to justify its attacks and its “intent to commit genocide.” The report cites, for example, that after killing 14 Hazaras on the Daikundi–Ghor border, ISIS wrote in one of its publications: “Many still ask why the mujahideen of the Islamic State specifically target Shias and Rawafid in their operations and turn their cities into graveyards. Therefore, we want to clarify to all Muslims that the intensity of our operations has only one reason: our enmity with all infidels and apostates… Shias and Rawafid… they are the worst apostates in the world.” The Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization writes that despite the severity of the crimes, the sectarian violence of ISIS–Khorasan against Hazara and Shia communities has received limited study. It is worth noting that in recent years Hazaras and Shias have been targeted in deadly terrorist attacks. These attacks have mostly occurred in educational centers, mosques, wedding halls, sports stadiums, hospitals, and city buses, targeting Hazara civilians—including schoolgirls and schoolboys.

Stephen Rodriguez, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative in Afghanistan, has stated that Afghanistan will not experience growth as long as half of its population (women and girls) is excluded from economic activities. Mr. Rodriguez made these remarks today (Wednesday, December 10) on the occasion of Human Rights Day, warning that depriving Afghan women and girls of their rights will have negative consequences for the country’s future. He further emphasized that removing women and girls from the labor market directly impacts Afghanistan’s economic future. He added: “Excluding women from work could reduce Afghanistan’s GDP by around one billion dollars between 2024 and 2026.” Stephen Rodriguez made these comments while the current authorities, since taking control of Afghanistan, have banned women and girls from education and schooling. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls—even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of female students unable to pursue 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 national and international NGOs, as well as even at United Nations offices inside Afghanistan.

UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, has stated that women and girls continue to face severe restrictions in the areas of health, employment, and participation in social life. In a statement released today (Wednesday, December 10) on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, UNAMA said that these restrictions weaken the fundamental rights of women and girls and undermine Afghanistan’s future. It added that limited access to health services makes families vulnerable and communities fragile. The mission further emphasized that the de facto authorities must align themselves with international human rights obligations. According to the statement, doing so is not only in line with global standards but also a practical path toward peace, resilience, and development for the country and its people. UNAMA also quoted Georgette Gagnon, Acting Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as saying: “Human rights are not optional. They are a daily necessity for life.” Ms. Gagnon added: “In Afghanistan, ensuring that women and girls can learn, work, and participate fully is essential for improvement. We call on the authorities to take decisive steps to align with global obligations and to open space for Afghanistan and all its people to flourish.” Fiona Frazer, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Afghanistan, also said: “Everyday needs such as education, health, livelihoods, and freedom are rights that must be available to all Afghans; yet many Afghans, especially women and girls, are deprived of these rights.” She stressed that human rights must be at the center of Afghanistan’s path forward, as these rights “serve as a bridge between survival and hope.” The United Nations added: “On this Human Rights Day, UNAMA calls on all stakeholders, beneficiaries, authorities, communities, and international partners to reaffirm their commitment to human rights as the foundation of efforts to improve conditions in Afghanistan.” It is worth noting that international organizations say the current authorities have been widely accused of human rights violations since their return to power in Afghanistan.

World leaders have pledged $1.9 billion at a meeting in Abu Dhabi to eradicate polio—an effort that will protect at least 370 million children from the disease. Media reports indicate that, amid declining global aid, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is projected to face a funding shortfall of $1.7 billion by 2029. This shortfall is largely due to reduced international contributions, a trend led by the United States, which is withdrawing from the World Health Organization. Other wealthy countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, have also reduced their contributions. It is worth noting that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the two countries with the highest number of polio cases. Despite global efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, the virus has not been fully eliminated in some countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to available data, around 36 confirmed cases of polio were recorded in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2025. In response to this situation, partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative plan to place greater emphasis on surveillance and vaccination in areas with high transmission risks. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said that the new support pledged in Abu Dhabi is crucial to reaching all children affected by polio and stopping the spread of various strains of the virus worldwide. The meeting, organized by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, reduced the funding gap for the polio eradication program for the years 2022 to 2029 to $440 million.

UN Women has recently announced that women-led organizations in Afghanistan may be forced to lay off up to 30 percent of their female staff due to funding cuts. In a post shared day (Monday, Dec 8) on its X account, UN Women wrote that women-led organizations are the backbone of Afghanistan’s support system for women and girls. UN Women in Afghanistan further emphasized that many of these organizations are now facing severe funding reductions. Referring to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the organization added: “We cannot afford to lose this frontline leadership.” Previously, UN Women had also stated that local women-led organizations in Afghanistan have lost about one-fifth of their funding. The organization further noted that following the collapse of previous support systems after the takeover by the caretaker government, millions of women now have nowhere to turn, and access to vital services has been severely restricted. This comes as UN Women for Afghanistan responded yesterday to the ban on female staff entering its offices and urged the caretaker government to lift the restriction so that assistance can reach women and girls.

UN Women for Afghanistan has responded to the ban on the entry of female staff into the organization’s offices and has called on the caretaker government to lift the restriction on women’s access to offices so that aid can reach women and girls. In a statement released today (Sunday, Dec 7), the organization said that three months have passed since the ban on female staff entering UN buildings across the country. During these 91 days, female employees have continued their vital work for the people of Afghanistan from their homes. Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Representative in Afghanistan, said that Afghan women and girls are essential to the work of the United Nations in the country, and that the organization can only access and assist women and girls through their presence. The UN official further emphasized that aid must be delivered by women and to women. She also stressed that she strongly opposes the restrictions, as they violate the fundamental principles of human rights and equality enshrined in the UN Charter and weaken the organization’s ability to carry out its mandate. She added: “We call for the lifting of the ban on Afghan female staff and contractors entering UN premises and for their safe access to offices and the field, so that assistance can reach the women and girls who need it most.” This comes as the current authorities banned women’s work in non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations, three years ago, while women’s employment in government offices was banned on the first day of their return to power. Despite this ban, women had continued working with UN agencies and some humanitarian organizations. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced in the month of Sunbula this year that government forces were preventing female staff from entering the organization’s offices. The organization also noted that following the ban on women’s access to offices, UN agencies, funds, and programs in Afghanistan have adjusted their operational plans and are currently assessing appropriate options for continuing their activities.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has recently warned that online harassment and abuse against women and girls is spreading at an alarming rate and could lead to real-world violence. In a message posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Mr. Guterres wrote that violence against women and girls must be stopped at all levels and called on countries to act in unity to put an end to this trend. In part of his message, he emphasized that hate speech in cyberspace can lead to violence in the real world. The UN Secretary-General also stressed the urgent need to seriously combat online hate speech and warned that the growth of digital violence could have serious social and security consequences. Meanwhile, online harassment of women has increased worldwide in recent years and has turned into a major social and security crisis. This warning by Antonio Guterres about the rise in online violence against women and girls comes as the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it has closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though Afghanistan’s healthcare sector is facing a severe shortage of personnel. These actions by the current authorities have resulted in millions of schoolgirl students being deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and even from working in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.