In the fifth edition of the Wushu competitions in the Sanda category held in Balochistan, Pakistan, Fatima Jafari, an athlete from Afghanistan, succeeded in securing the championship belt in Wushu. According to a statement, the athletes from the Fajr Sports Complex, under the guidance of Bismillah Nasih, showcased outstanding performances. Among them, Fatima Jafari managed to claim the championship belt, while Mohsen Hosseini also won a gold medal. Mohsen Hosseini competed in the 56 kg weight category against his Pakistani opponent, Abdul Rahman, and was able to achieve victory by technical knockout in the very first round. In the women's category, Fatima Jafari was set to compete against Saleema from Pakistan for the championship belt; however, her opponent did not show up for the match, and thus this athlete from Afghanistan became the champion. Officials from the Fajr Sports Complex have stated that Fatima Jafari and Ali Sina Razaei, two athletes from this complex, are scheduled to face their opponents in professional boxing competitions on May 10, 2026, in Quetta, Pakistan. These competitions will be registered on the website of the World Boxing Organization. It is noteworthy that Fatima Jafari has participated in two professional boxing matches so far, and Ali Sina Razaei also has one professional record. These competitions are set to take place for the championship belt. While Fatima Jafari becomes the champion of this edition, women and girls in Afghanistan are deprived of participating in sports activities. Since the current government regained power, extensive restrictions have been imposed on women's presence in public spheres, including sports. According to reports from international organizations, women in Afghanistan are not allowed to attend gyms, participate in sports competitions, or engage in formal training. These restrictions have led many female athletes to cease their activities or leave the country to continue their sports careers.

The online school "Knowledge Tree," operating under the "Right to Learn Afghanistan" program, has been listed among the top 50 schools in the Global School Awards for the year 2026. In a statement published on its X account, the "Knowledge Tree" school announced that this international competition is organized by the Varkey Foundation to identify the most innovative educational programs in the world. The announcement states that this school was selected from among three thousand nominees from 113 countries and is included in the final list of the award in the "Overcoming Challenges" category. It further mentions that the "Right to Learn Afghanistan" program was established after secondary education for girls was banned in 2021. The online "Knowledge Tree" school emphasized that it was created in response to this situation to continue education for girls and boys who do not have access to in-person schools. The announcement indicated that the school started its activities in 2022 with 25 female students but has now grown to over 700 students, approximately 92% of whom are girls. These students are being educated in 11 provinces of Afghanistan as well as in educational centers in Pakistan and Turkey. The "Knowledge Tree" school added that more than four thousand other students are on the waiting list. In this program, education is provided online and includes structured curricula, qualified teachers, psychological support, educational counseling, and, in some cases, internationally recognized certificates. The announcement stated that more than half of the teachers at this school are women, and its goal is to provide equal education for girls and boys. The final results of this competition are set to be announced at the Global Education Summit in London. While this school ranks among the top 50 in the Global Awards, the interim government has deprived women and girls of education since taking control of Afghanistan. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being denied access to education.

Turkish media have reported that Mahnaz Yulmaz, a student from Jowzjan province in Afghanistan, was symbolically appointed as the mayor of Izmir, Turkey, for 24 hours due to her outstanding abilities and creativity in school. Reports indicate that this program is held annually in April by local authorities in the city of Izmir. The initiative aims to encourage students, especially girls, to pursue education, take on responsibilities, and engage in social participation. Turkish educational officials state that this initiative helps strengthen self-confidence, develop leadership skills, and promote the active involvement of the younger generation in social issues. This symbolic event has received widespread attention on social media and has been praised as an example of recognition for young talents. Mahnaz Yulmaz's mother, Aliyeh Yulmaz, wrote on her Facebook account that the timing of this achievement with her work responsibilities created a mixed feeling for her. She continued by saying that while her daughter was smiling in her position of responsibility, she herself was engaged in organizing a scientific-political conference about Afghanistan. Mahnaz Yulmaz's mother added: "This moment brought a combination of pride and longing. On one hand, I am proud of my daughter, and on the other hand, I regret not being there with her at that moment." She emphasized that responsibilities sometimes place a person between love for family and commitment to society. Mahnaz's mother stressed: "Today's efforts in the realm of thought and dialogue will pave the way for a better future for the next generation; a generation that will create a brighter tomorrow through action." While this Afghan student is appointed as the mayor of Izmir, the interim government has deprived women and girls of education and schooling since taking control of Afghanistan. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of female students without access to education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even at UN offices in Afghanistan.

Andrika Ratwatte, the former Deputy Representative of the United Nations in Afghanistan, has stated that one of the "most severe and complex" protection crises in the world is unfolding in Afghanistan. Mr. Ratwatte, who recently concluded his mission in Afghanistan, wrote in an article for the United Nations publication "Chronicle" that alongside other crises, "gender-based restrictions" have severely limited women's and girls' access to education, employment, public participation, and essential services, exacerbating the country's critical situation. He emphasized that these restrictions have weakened the resilience of half of Afghanistan's population and significantly limited the capacity of humanitarian actors to provide principled and inclusive assistance. He added: "The ban on secondary and higher education for girls, the prohibition of women's employment in key sectors, and ongoing restrictions on female staff in humanitarian aid have all contributed to increased protection risks. In such a fragile environment, geopolitical tensions and regional instability also exert additional pressure." Moreover, he noted that at the same time, Afghanistan is experiencing one of the largest waves of return of migrants in its contemporary history, with approximately 5 million people returning from neighboring countries over the past two years, equivalent to an almost 10 percent increase in the country's population. The former UN Deputy Representative specified that in 2025 alone, 2.8 million Afghan citizens returned, marking the highest annual figure in recent years. In part of his article, the former UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan mentioned that Afghanistan is also facing a series of climate-related disasters. Years of drought have depleted groundwater resources, destroyed crops, and weakened agricultural systems, while floods, landslides, and recurrent earthquakes continue to devastate homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. He added that these environmental shocks are intertwined with socio-economic fragilities, with over 70 percent of households reporting insufficient food consumption. Many resort to critical survival strategies such as selling productive assets, early marriage, or reducing access to health and education services. The article stated that collectively, these factors have created a multi-layered crisis in protection that places millions at risk of severe deprivation. Mr. Ratwatte served as the Deputy Head of UNAMA for Humanitarian Coordination in Afghanistan from 2024 to 2026. The United Nations announced yesterday that Bruno Georges Lemercier, a French official of the organization, has been appointed as the new Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations in Afghanistan and the new Humanitarian Coordinator for this organization.