Sima Bahous, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of its Women’s Division, states that achieving peace in Afghanistan is impossible without the meaningful and inclusive participation of women and girls in political processes. Ms. Bahous made these remarks at a United Nations Security Council meeting regarding the situation in Afghanistan, noting that since she began her role as Executive Director of the UN Women’s Division, conditions for Afghan women and girls have worsened, and not a single one of the restrictions imposed by the interim government has been lifted. She emphasized, "In the midst of this escalating crisis, the pleas of Afghan women and girls to the international community not to forget them have often gone unanswered." She added that despite numerous Security Council resolutions supporting female aid workers and their unhindered access to women in Afghanistan, the ability of the UN and its partners to provide services to women has been severely undermined. Additionally, this UN official mentioned that the current government's restrictions have made "the safe employment of female aid workers and even access to affected women more difficult than ever." Sima Bahous expressed her commitment to supporting Afghan women, stating that this international organization will do everything in its power to help these women overcome endless limitations. Ms. Bahous also referred to the recent Afghanistan Gender Index report published by UN Women last week, indicating that one-third of the country's population, particularly women and children, face malnutrition and hunger. She described the restrictions against the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls as more than just a crisis, labeling it as "harmful to a generation." The Executive Director of UN Women warned that Afghan women and girls must not be marginalized, asserting that the legitimacy and sustainability of any agreement or outcome depend on their meaningful, safe, full, and equal participation. She further urged the Security Council to actively support ongoing efforts to hold the current government accountable.

The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund has announced that millions of women depend on humanitarian aid to survive, and many families led by women in provinces like Badghis are getting by solely through cash assistance. The fund stated in a report that cash distribution projects managed by female aid workers have been able to create a safe environment for female recipients in provinces like Badghis. The report quotes Guljan, a 55-year-old woman who is the guardian of her grandchildren, as saying: "I came today to get money. My grandchildren will be happy because I can buy them good food and clothes." The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund emphasized that over the past decade, more than one billion dollars have been allocated to assist the most vulnerable segments of society, especially families headed by women. According to a United Nations report, the economic situation in Afghanistan has worsened since the current government came to power. The United Nations Humanitarian Fund for Afghanistan has stated that the restrictions imposed on women have impacted the economy of the country. The report notes that half of Afghanistan's population requires humanitarian assistance to sustain their lives, with most of these needy individuals being women and children. Additionally, decreasing income, drought, and increasing restrictions on women's participation in society have unprecedentedly heightened the needs of this group.

Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, the governor of Tehran, has recently announced that the operation to collect and expel "unauthorized" Afghan migrants has intensified. According to the Mehr News Agency, the governor made this statement during a visit to the Askarabad camp on Saturday, June 31, and said: "Dealing with the illegal presence of foreign nationals in the country is a security and social necessity." He emphasized that law enforcement, municipalities, the Center for Foreign Nationals Affairs, and other institutions are conducting the process of identifying, collecting, transferring, and expelling unauthorized individuals with speed and precision. Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian added that Iran's bus company is transporting these migrants to the Afghanistan border. This comes as reports have emerged that following the outbreak of war between Iran and Israel, the country has prevented some Afghan migrants, including those holding census cards and exit permits, from leaving. Several Afghan migrants have stated that despite having exit permits, they were not allowed to leave Iran. It is noteworthy that Iranian officials have not commented on the prevention of migrants holding census cards and exit permits from leaving. It should be mentioned that this year, Iran invalidated the census cards of about two million Afghan migrants, which were considered proof of legal residency, effectively turning them into illegal migrants in the country. The Iranian government issues exit permits to these migrants after they visit the so-called "sponsorship offices" twice and warns them that if they do not leave according to the deadline specified in the permit, they will face fines and forced expulsion.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has recently announced that, in collaboration with France, it will hold a special race for Afghan female cyclists on the sidelines of the World Championships in France, as a gesture of solidarity with the women of Afghanistan. According to a statement from the UCI, the event will take place from June 26 to 28 this year, during which Afghan female cyclists will ride a 115.5-kilometer route— the same course used by French athletes. The UCI emphasized that the individual time trial, covering 26.5 kilometers with a 400-meter elevation gain, will be held on Thursday, June 26. The road race, spanning 115.5 kilometers with a 1,540-meter elevation gain, is scheduled for Saturday, June 28. The statement noted that five Afghan athletes—Fariba Hashimi, Zahra Rezai, Samira Ahrari, Mehnaz Mohammadi, and Yulduz Hashimi—will participate in these races. It is important to mention that these Afghan athletes are not part of the official world championships, but rather will be competing for the title of Afghanistan Women's Cycling Champion 2025. According to the UCI, Fariba Hashimi—winner of the 2022 Afghanistan Women’s Cycling Championship in Switzerland and one of the five cyclists competing this year—has vowed to defend her title with full determination. "I am ready to defend my championship title," Ms. Hashimi said. "Of course, I hope to win again, but I also hope this event will be an opportunity for other athletes to shine." The statement also quoted David Lappartient, President of the UCI, who said it is “an honor” to once again see the best Afghan female cyclists competing for their national title. This comes at a time when, following the return of the de facto government to power, women and girls in Afghanistan have been completely banned from participating in all sports, and the Afghan national women’s sports teams have been dismantled. As a result, many female athletes who once represented Afghanistan on the national level have been forced to leave the country.

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Afghanistan, has warned that severe restrictions against women and girls are causing an increase in child marriage rates, gender-based violence, and child labor. In a report published on its website, the organization stated that the harsh restrictions imposed on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. The report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates that the implementation of restrictions against women and girls in Afghanistan has intensified the situation for those who are currently enduring the greatest crisis. The organization also noted a decrease in humanitarian funding, stating that by mid-2025, the humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan is only 18% funded. The report mentions that currently, more than 420 health centers across Afghanistan have closed, halting access to primary health care for three million people. This international organization has warned about the continuation of this trend, emphasizing that nearly 300 nutrition centers have shut down, leading to the cessation of lifesaving treatment for 80,000 malnourished children and mothers. Furthermore, it states that the reduction in funding has disrupted assistance for millions across the country, including women and girls, displaced communities, children, returnees, and other vulnerable groups. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs added that services for 3.3 million people, including children and individuals with disabilities, are no longer available. OCHA has called on donors and financial supporters to increase flexible and timely funding for the response plan and humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Afghanistan, has warned that severe restrictions against women and girls are causing an increase in child marriage rates, gender-based violence, and child labor. In a report published on its website, the organization stated that the harsh restrictions imposed on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. The report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates that the implementation of restrictions against women and girls in Afghanistan has intensified the situation for those who are currently enduring the greatest crisis. The organization also noted a decrease in humanitarian funding, stating that by mid-2025, the humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan is only 18% funded. The report mentions that currently, more than 420 health centers across Afghanistan have closed, halting access to primary health care for three million people. This international organization has warned about the continuation of this trend, emphasizing that nearly 300 nutrition centers have shut down, leading to the cessation of lifesaving treatment for 80,000 malnourished children and mothers. Furthermore, it states that the reduction in funding has disrupted assistance for millions across the country, including women and girls, displaced communities, children, returnees, and other vulnerable groups. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs added that services for 3.3 million people, including children and individuals with disabilities, are no longer available. OCHA has called on donors and financial supporters to increase flexible and timely funding for the response plan and humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Afghanistan, has warned that severe restrictions against women and girls are causing an increase in child marriage rates, gender-based violence, and child labor. In a report published on its website, the organization stated that the harsh restrictions imposed on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. The report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates that the implementation of restrictions against women and girls in Afghanistan has intensified the situation for those who are currently enduring the greatest crisis. The organization also noted a decrease in humanitarian funding, stating that by mid-2025, the humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan is only 18% funded. The report mentions that currently, more than 420 health centers across Afghanistan have closed, halting access to primary health care for three million people. This international organization has warned about the continuation of this trend, emphasizing that nearly 300 nutrition centers have shut down, leading to the cessation of lifesaving treatment for 80,000 malnourished children and mothers. Furthermore, it states that the reduction in funding has disrupted assistance for millions across the country, including women and girls, displaced communities, children, returnees, and other vulnerable groups. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs added that services for 3.3 million people, including children and individuals with disabilities, are no longer available. OCHA has called on donors and financial supporters to increase flexible and timely funding for the response plan and humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Women’s Section states that eight out of ten young women across Afghanistan are deprived of their right to access education, schooling, and employment. Today (Tuesday, June 27), this organization published the Gender Index Report for Afghanistan for the year 2024, indicating that following the return of the caretaker government to power, Afghan women have significantly fallen behind global standards of human development. The report mentions that Afghanistan has the second-largest gender gap in the world, with a 76% disparity between the achievements of women and men in the areas of health, education, financial participation, and decision-making. It is noted in the report that Afghan women, on average, only realize 17% of their full potential to choose and access opportunities, while women worldwide achieve 60.7%. The UN Women’s Section emphasizes that Afghanistan still has one of the largest gender gaps in the workforce globally. The organization adds that Afghan women are more likely to work at home and in low-paying, insecure jobs. According to the report, 74% of women spend significant time doing housework, while this figure is only 3% for men. The Gender Index Report for Afghanistan in 2024 states that there is currently zero female representation in the cabinet of the government, which hinders women's ability to shape and implement policies and laws. The UN Women’s Section states that despite being nearly excluded from public and political life, Afghan women continue to seek an inclusive government and find ways to voice their demands and concerns to the Taliban. This organization asserts that Afghan women and girls have the right to political participation and to live with dignity, just like the men in the country. The report quotes Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, saying: “The potential of women and girls in Afghanistan remains untapped. They support each other, run businesses, provide humanitarian aid, and speak out against injustice.”

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund for Afghanistan, has announced the launch of the "First Food of Afghanistan" program to prevent a food crisis in the country. In a statement published on its X account, the organization noted that 90% of children in Afghanistan live with food insecurity, with half of them facing "severe food insecurity." UNICEF emphasized that the goal of this program is to improve the nutritional regime of children under two years old through transformation in food and nutrition systems. The statement mentioned that this program is set to cover 1.7 million children across Afghanistan. The United Nations Children's Fund for Afghanistan added that the First Food of Afghanistan program encourages people to provide local and nutritious supplementary foods for their young children as much as they can. The statement quoted Dr. Tajuddin Owyali, UNICEF's representative in Afghanistan, saying that children in Afghanistan are not only suffering from malnutrition but are also "chronically" deprived of the most basic elements of growth. Mr. Owyali warned, "Half of the children in Afghanistan consume only two out of eight essential food types daily, which puts them at high risk of malnutrition and even death." According to reports, by the year 2025, 1.5 million young children in Afghanistan are expected to suffer from severe wasting, with 1.4 million of them at high risk of mortality, and 85% of these are children under two years old. UNICEF states that more than 33% of children trapped in severe food insecurity are at risk of stunting and developmental delays. Additionally, the United Nations Children's Fund mentioned in its statement that Afghanistan ranks fourth among countries facing the highest rates of severe food insecurity among children.

UN agencies have issued a joint call for immediate, coordinated, and multi-sectoral actions regarding nutrition in Afghanistan to combat the crisis of malnutrition affecting women and children. The statement highlights that Afghanistan is at a critical juncture in its fight against malnutrition among women and children, and immediate actions with support at global, national, and local levels are essential to save lives and mitigate the devastating effects of this ongoing crisis. The announcement states that this call has been jointly issued by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Population Fund. The issuers of this call provide a roadmap to strengthen the supportive environment for designing and implementing comprehensive food and nutrition policies aimed at preventing wasting, stunting, and other forms of malnutrition. The goal is to ensure early access to preventive services, integrated management of acute malnutrition, and improved access to healthy and nutritious diets. Additionally, these organizations emphasize the need for the food, health, social protection, water, sanitation, and education sectors to become more sensitive and accountable to nutritional outcomes among children and women. The call states that achieving these goals requires strengthening governance structures in the nutrition sector, including effective leadership, multi-sectoral coordination, a specialized workforce in nutrition, and generating strong evidence to inform policies and programs. UN agencies have indicated that Afghanistan is among the 15 countries in the world with the highest rates of severe child malnutrition, with over 3.5 million children under five currently suffering from acute malnutrition, of which 1.4 million are at risk of death. Furthermore, the call mentions that four out of ten women in Afghanistan are malnourished and are often overlooked in responses to this crisis. According to the UN agencies' call, nine out of ten young children in Afghanistan are experiencing "child food poverty" and lack access to the necessary dietary diversity for their growth and development. The UN agencies have reported that high levels of food insecurity, primarily caused by a fragile economy and environmental disasters such as drought, have left 9.8 million people in a state of acute food insecurity. The call quotes Edwin Sienaza Salvador, WHO representative in Afghanistan, stating: "Malnutrition is not just a health issue; it is a cycle that spans generations. When mothers are malnourished, there is a higher likelihood of low birth weight babies, which increases the risk of inadequate growth and developmental issues during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood." He added: "Breaking this cycle requires an active approach that focuses on both prevention and treatment at every stage of life." Following the cessation of U.S. financial aid and the reduction of humanitarian assistance from other countries, UN agencies have repeatedly warned of increasing malnutrition in Afghanistan.