The United Nations Development Fund for Afghanistan has recently announced that the economic empowerment of women is one of the most effective ways to enhance resilience in Afghanistan. In a message posted on its X account day (Sunday, April 13), the organization stated that small-scale interventions can play a significant role in improving family livelihoods and developing communities. The UN Development Fund shared the story of a woman named Bibi Nuriyeh, who, after losing her husband, turned to raising birds at home with the support of this fund and was able to create a source of income for her family. It further noted that bird farming not only helps meet the nutritional needs of families but also provides a sustainable income. The UN Development Fund emphasized that it supports such initiatives in collaboration with its partners and considers these efforts part of the drive to strengthen family self-reliance in Afghanistan. This comes at a time when Afghan women are facing extensive restrictions in the workplace following the return of the caretaker government. Women's work has been banned in many formal sectors, and some have been forced to engage in informal sectors and domestic work to meet their living expenses. Alongside these restrictions, some local and international organizations have attempted to facilitate continued work and income opportunities for women through small-scale programs and supportive projects.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, recently announced that millions of children around the world are at risk of forced labor, with some being trafficked and coerced into dangerous work. This organization published a report stating that economic problems are causing children globally to be subjected to labor. UNICEF emphasized that in the latest statistics collected in 2024, approximately 138 million children worldwide were engaged in work, with more than one-third involved in hazardous jobs that directly threaten their health and development. Part of the report states: "Forced labor can lead to severe physical and psychological harm and even death for children. Children may be exploited for slavery and sexual or economic abuse. In almost all cases, children are deprived of education and health services, and their fundamental rights are restricted." UNICEF further added that trafficked children are often exposed to violence, abuse, and human rights violations. For girls, the risk of sexual exploitation is particularly high. The United Nations Children's Fund indicates that globally, boys in all age groups are more involved in child labor than girls. Among children aged 5 to 17 years, 9% of boys and 7% of girls are engaged in work. UNICEF stated that labor deprives children of their fundamental rights. Many are denied education and health services at a time when they need them the most. Additionally, this organization and the International Labour Organization have urged governments to end child labor worldwide by providing cash assistance to needy households, supporting child protection systems, ensuring universal access to education, and creating job opportunities for adults.

A young man in Herat province has launched a mobile bookstore called “Book Messenger” (Payk-e Ketab) in an effort to promote a culture of reading and make access to books easier for the public. Ghulam Farooq Mahmoudi has invested 500,000 Afghanis and collected around 2,000 books to establish a mobile library named “Book Messenger.” Through this initiative, he delivers books directly to readers’ homes, aiming to encourage reading and provide easier access to books. In a video shared online, he can be seen transforming his vehicle into a mobile library, equipping it with shelves similar to those found in public libraries. This mobile library not only accepts book orders online but also travels to different neighborhoods across the city, delivering books right to people’s doorsteps. Mahmoudi says that people visit public libraries less frequently, and his method helps make reading more accessible. Meanwhile, a number of cultural figures in Herat emphasize the importance of supporting booksellers and describe this initiative as an effective step toward promoting a reading culture among the public. Officials at the Herat Department of Information and Culture also state that they support cultural initiatives and are working to promote reading, especially among young people. Abdul Mateen Adel, Head of Culture and Arts at the Herat Department of Information and Culture, says: “One of our ongoing efforts is to promote and expand a culture of reading among the people, and we always support individuals who strive in this direction.” According to booksellers, in recent years, the widespread use of the internet and social media, economic challenges faced by families, and difficulties confronting young people have led to a decline in book sales in Herat. There is no comprehensive data available on reading rates in Afghanistan. UNESCO reports that Afghanistan’s literacy rate in 2022 was approximately 37.3 percent; this figure was 22.6 percent for women and 52.1 percent for men. Additionally, since returning to power, the de facto authorities have closed girls’ secondary schools, leaving around 2.2 million girls deprived of secondary education.

Pakistani media recently reported that Farishta Khani, a female athlete from Afghanistan in the sport of boxing, has become the champion of Pakistan's national boxing competitions. Reports indicate that these competitions were recently held in Hyderabad, Sindh province, with the participation of athletes from various provinces of Pakistan. The national boxing competitions in Pakistan lasted for about a week and featured athletes from over 20 provinces and regions of the country. Farishta Khani announced her achievement of winning the gold medal in these competitions by posting several photos on her Instagram account. In her message, she stated that she participated in the 50 kg weight category and successfully defeated all her opponents to secure the gold medal. This athlete triumphed over three opponents to ultimately claim first place and wear the gold medal for herself and Afghanistan. Additionally, Farishta Khani was also crowned champion of the mixed martial arts competitions in Pakistan last summer after achieving four consecutive victories. She competed in the 47.6 kg weight category in those events. Farishta Khani trains at the Fajr Boxing Academy in Quetta, Pakistan, under the guidance of renowned boxing coach Bismillah Nasir. It is worth noting that the caretaker government in Afghanistan has banned the participation of women and girls in all sports disciplines. Following this restriction, all women's sports teams in the country have been dissolved.

Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has recently stated that the country is striving to enhance access for women, children, and persons with disabilities to health and nutrition services in Afghanistan. On the occasion of World Health Day, Mr. Lindsay expressed his appreciation for the vital role of partners in delivering health services in Afghanistan through a message posted on his X account. He emphasized that under the leadership of World Vision Afghanistan and with the support of the UK, comprehensive and safe health and nutrition services are being provided to the most vulnerable groups. In part of his message, the UK Special Representative added that these efforts aim to increase access to health and nutritional care for vulnerable individuals in Afghanistan. It should be noted that access to health services in Afghanistan has been restricted in recent years due to various limitations, and many individuals, including women, face significant health challenges. Afghanistan is among the countries with a high maternal and neonatal mortality rate. The lack of health facilities, limited access to specialized training, and the considerable distance from villages to treatment centers pose serious challenges in providing services to pregnant mothers. In many areas, women give birth at home or in small clinics, and midwives often work with minimal resources and without immediate access to specialized guidance.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has recently reported that at least 92 people have died in mine and explosive-related incidents in Afghanistan in 2025, with another 375 injured. In a statement, the committee noted that at least 66% of the victims and those affected by these explosions are children. On the occasion of International Mine Awareness Day and support for explosive ordnance clearance operations, the ICRC stated that it recorded at least 217 explosive ordnance incidents across Afghanistan last year. The report further highlighted that mines and unexploded ordnance from past conflicts continue to threaten the lives of citizens. According to United Nations data, Afghanistan is one of the three countries most contaminated by explosives in the world. The ICRC report indicated that one-third of explosive-related incidents occurred in eastern Afghanistan during this year. Additionally, it stated that 48% of these incidents took place in western regions, while 34% occurred in southern areas. Last year saw the fewest incidents of mine and explosive explosions in northern provinces. The ICRC described the casualties resulting from explosive ordnance in Afghanistan as alarming. The organization added that for every fatality, approximately four others are injured, many of whom face disabilities and require long-term care. Furthermore, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, called on the international community to invest in ongoing mine clearance and unexploded ordnance operations on this day. He emphasized that Afghanistan remains among the countries most severely affected by mines and remnants of war explosives globally.

The international child protection organization, Save the Children, has recently reported that, on average, one child in Afghanistan is killed or injured every day due to explosive materials. In a published report, the organization stated that between January 2025 and January 2026, 338 children were killed or maimed as a result of explosive munitions, including remnants of war such as landmines and other explosive devices. The report indicated that during this period, children constituted nearly 70% of the total casualties from explosive materials. Save the Children emphasized that Afghanistan has the highest rate of child casualties from explosive materials in the world, with 43% of all children killed or injured globally since 1999 being from this country. The report noted that over 2.7 million people in Afghanistan live within one kilometer of explosive remnants of war, and nearly five thousand contaminated areas remain uncleared. Additionally, Save the Children mentioned that most of these explosives are located in pastures, areas where nomadic populations, particularly Kuchis, reside. According to the organization, many Kuchis travel hundreds of kilometers each year with their livestock and camels in search of water and grazing land, while having limited access to essential services such as health care, education, and protection. This organization has launched mobile educational programs to raise awareness among children in remote areas. Moreover, Bojar Hoja, the head of Save the Children in Afghanistan, stated that remnants of war are still scattered throughout the country, putting children at risk in their play and work environments.