Richard Lindsay, the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has recently announced that his country will continue supporting Afghan women and girls. In a statement published on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Mr. Lindsay wrote that an important discussion was recently held on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan with several international organizations and the Afghanistan Women and Girls Support Forum. He added that a meeting was organized to discuss the impact of the humanitarian crisis on Afghan citizens, attended by the British Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Afghanistan Women Support Association. The UK Special Representative further emphasized that the courage of Afghan aid workers is inspiring, and that the United Kingdom will continue to support those who tirelessly work to ensure women’s access to humanitarian assistance. It is worth noting that women and girls in Afghanistan have faced numerous restrictions since the return of the current authorities to power and have lost a significant portion of their fundamental rights. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have deprived women and girls of education and learning opportunities. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the healthcare sector across Afghanistan facing a severe shortage of personnel. This decision has left millions of female students deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from attending gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Human Rights Watch, while welcoming the special report by Richard Bennett on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, has called on United Nations member states to listen to Afghan women and girls and place their voices at the center of international attention. The organization made these remarks today (Thursday, February 26) during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, stating that member states must take stronger measures to protect the rights of Afghan women and girls. Human Rights Watch further emphasized that UN member states should recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. The organization also urged countries to support the efforts of the International Criminal Court to prosecute those responsible for gender-based persecution and other serious international crimes in Afghanistan. These statements come as, over the past more than four years, the rights of women and girls have been severely violated, depriving them of their most basic rights, including the right to education and employment. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, also stated in his latest report that the rights of women and girls are being violated widely and systematically, and that they face discrimination, repression, and restrictions in all areas of life. It should be noted that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities barred women and girls from education. This action has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of learning opportunities. In addition, women have been banned from attending sports centers, restaurants, and public baths, from being examined by male doctors, from traveling without a male guardian, and from working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations as well as even UN offices in Afghanistan.

The Child Protection Organization has recently announced that 25,000 children are still living in tents six months after the powerful earthquake in Kunar. In a message posted today (Thursday, February 26) on its X account, the organization stated that many of these tents were damaged during the recent rainfall. The organization further emphasized that many of the homes and schools destroyed in Kunar province have not yet been rebuilt. The report states: “The earthquake completely or partially destroyed more than half of the nearly 1,300 assessed classrooms. Even before the earthquake, nearly 50,000 primary school-aged children in Kunar—who were most affected by the disaster—were already out of school.” According to the report, the reconstruction of schools has not yet begun, and 17,000 children are currently studying in open spaces. Additionally, Bojar Hoxha, Country Director of Save the Children for Afghanistan, said: “Families in Kunar are worried about being forgotten. They depend on assistance from Save the Children and other humanitarian organizations, and this situation will not change anytime soon.” This comes as a powerful earthquake struck Kunar province and several eastern provinces of Afghanistan six months ago, leaving more than 2,000 people dead in Kunar alone.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has recently announced that nearly one-third of Afghan migrants returning to the country are women and girls. In a newly published report, the organization stated that children under the age of 17—particularly unaccompanied and separated children—are in urgent need of protection support as well as psychosocial services. The report notes that returnees without official documentation face serious obstacles in accessing basic services, livelihood opportunities, and legal assistance, leaving them in a highly vulnerable situation. UNAMA further emphasized that immediate priorities include providing shelter, strengthening food security, supporting livelihoods, and implementing sustainable reintegration programs. The international body warned that the absence of long-term support could heighten the risk of increased vulnerability and social instability, stressing that sustained funding for humanitarian assistance is essential. Some time ago, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced that, according to available data, more than 2.8 million migrants returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries in 2025. In its report, UNDP stated that this influx—largely from neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan—has added further strain to a country already in a fragile condition and grappling with the consequences of decades of instability and recent natural disasters.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights, has recently stated that Afghanistan’s health sector is facing a severe shortage of female doctors. Today (Wednesday, February 25), in his report on the status of Afghan women’s and girls’ access to healthcare services, Bennett said that women make up only 27 percent of general physicians, 18 percent of specialist doctors, and 29 percent of nurses. In his report, he emphasized that the policies of Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, which target women’s education, employment, mobility, and participation in public life, are inflicting deep and lasting damage on the country’s healthcare system. The report states that the ban on medical education in 2024 has not only disrupted current service delivery but has fundamentally undermined the future sustainability of the health sector. This comes despite the fact that medical institutes were open to women and girls until last year, but were closed by order of the leader of the current authorities. Bennett further added that by restricting access to medical, nursing, midwifery, and other health-related education, the de facto authorities are effectively dismantling the system. The report also notes that women working in the health sector are retiring, migrating, or being forcibly dismissed, leaving entire communities—especially in rural and underserved areas—without trained personnel capable of providing safe and acceptable care. It is worth mentioning that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities deprived women and girls of education. This action has left millions of schoolgirls out of school. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Human Rights Watch, in its latest statement as part of a campaign calling for the reopening of schools to girls above the sixth grade, has declared that justice begins at the school gates. In a statement published on Tuesday (25 February), the organization said that 1,620 days have passed since schools and education beyond the sixth grade were closed to girls—days that represent thousands of buried dreams and a future taken away from a generation. Afghanistan Human Rights Watch further emphasized that silence in the face of the ban on girls’ and women’s education amounts to accepting injustice. In another part of its statement, the organization called for broad public support for girls’ right to education and for lifting the ban on education beyond the sixth grade for girls in Afghanistan. This call comes as the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, deprived women and girls of education. In their latest restriction, they also closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of female students deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses; from being examined by male doctors; from traveling without a male guardian (mahram); and from working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

The Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan has recently announced that by establishing community-based classes in villages across Afghanistan, it is expanding citizens’ access to educational services. On Tuesday (24 February), sharing the story of a classroom in a village in central Afghanistan on its X account, the organization wrote that before the establishment of the EU-supported class, residents of the village had no access to educational services. One of the village residents told the European Union that his children can now study in warm classrooms in their own village. He added that with the cash assistance he received from the EU, he is able to meet his family’s heating needs and provide warm clothing for his children. It is worth noting that the European Union has allocated millions of euros this year to support the expansion of educational services in underserved areas of Afghanistan. Through community-based classroom structures, it is facilitating access to education for citizens. It should be noted that tens of thousands of children and adolescents in remote parts of Afghanistan currently lack access to educational services due to the absence of formal educational centers or their long distance from such facilities. Poverty has also been cited as a major barrier preventing citizens from accessing education. While the European Union emphasizes the importance of education, the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education.

The European Union Delegation has recently announced that it continues to support Afghan women and girls in various sectors to help them expand their businesses. Today (Monday, February 23), the EU shared the story of a young woman named Fariha on its X account. She received financial support from the “Innovative Women’s Savings Group” program funded by the European Union. With this assistance, she was able to expand her tailoring workshop. The European Union further emphasized that Fariha initially had only one sewing machine, but now she owns four machines, and 16 other women are working in her workshop. In part of the story, the EU Delegation noted that these women are expanding their businesses, creating job opportunities, and supporting their community. It is worth mentioning that the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within the framework of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Program, are working to support local women-led small businesses to help women achieve economic self-reliance. While the European Union continues to support Afghan women’s businesses, the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the healthcare sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. These measures have resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses; from being examined by male doctors; from traveling without a male guardian (mahram); and from working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.