Amnesty International states that the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are facing severe and escalating attacks that affect all aspects of their lives. In response to recent comments by Khalid Hanafi, the acting head of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice regarding women's voices, the organization said: "After the ban on women speaking in public, the current government now states that women cannot pray loudly enough for another woman to hear." The organization emphasized that the caretaker government must immediately revoke all decrees and actions that violate the human rights of women and girls. It continues: "These additional restrictions come at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan are facing increasingly severe attacks on their rights, impacting all areas of their lives." This comes as Khalid Hanafi recently stated that the law of promotion of virtue stipulates that "women cannot sing, recite, or read songs aloud." The Minister of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice mentioned that when an adult woman is praying, another adult woman passing in front of her is not allowed to say "Alhamdulillah" or "Subhanallah." Mr. Hanafi stated that women are not allowed to perform the call to prayer (Adhan) or the Takbir, so how can they sing? It is noteworthy that the law of promotion of virtue and prevention of vice under the caretaker government states that "hiding a woman's face due to fear of fitna (temptation) is necessary." The current government considers women's loud voices as part of their 'awrah (intimate parts) that must be concealed. It should be noted that women and girls in Afghanistan have faced severe deprivation and restrictions since the current government took power. Currently, women and girls above the sixth grade are unable to attend school, university, or work. Additionally, women are prohibited 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 United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

A new United Nations report indicates that the policies of the caretaker government have changed families' perspectives, leading to a significant reduction in community support for girls' education. The UN Women’s section published the results of its surveys on the status of women and girls in Afghanistan, stating that after the current government's ban on girls' education, some girls have focused on vocational training and Islamic education. This report was prepared in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, following in-person and remote interviews with 776 women across 34 provinces and 57 men in 11 provinces. The report notes that approximately 47 percent of respondents said that community support for girls' primary education has significantly decreased. Furthermore, 67 percent of female respondents emphasized that families' views on girls' secondary education have changed. The United Nations stated that these statistics reflect a societal shift towards conservative traditions imposed on citizens by the current government. Additionally, women respondents cited fear of the caretaker government as a reason for the decline in community support for girls' education. Exclusion from Society In this report, 70 percent of women stated that they have been deprived of going to public places such as parks and health centers in the past 12 months. They emphasized that the current government has even prohibited women from entering recreational areas and historical sites, even with a male guardian. These women reported that government officials tell them these places are only for men. Moreover, 69 percent of women indicated that they do not feel safe when leaving their homes. This feeling has led them to become isolated from society and to suffer from mental health issues like depression. The current government insists that it has made society safe for Afghan women; however, it simultaneously asks women not to leave their homes without a valid reason. Closed Doors to Justice and Women The report from three UN agencies also reveals that women are deprived of support and services from legal and judicial authorities in Afghanistan, facing gender-based barriers that limit their access to these institutions. Nearly 80 percent of interviewed women told the organization that current government officials refuse to address their legal cases. Meanwhile, 79 percent of Afghan women have not approached any formal legal or judicial institution in the past year to resolve disputes or legal issues. Women’s Demands These prohibitions and social restrictions have led 57 percent of responding women to describe their economic situation as worse than before. They believe that restrictions, including the requirement for a male guardian, have sidelined them from economic participation. They urged the caretaker government to reopen girls' schools at all levels and to respect international human rights standards, including women's rights, by removing barriers such as the requirement for a male guardian for women’s work. These women asked the United Nations to increase pressure on the Taliban to realize women's rights, particularly the right to education and work.

Local officials from Kapisa province say that a man shot a 45-year-old woman and her two daughters in this province. Abdul Fattah Fayez, the spokesman of the Kapisa Police Command, said that the incident took place in the village of Qutb al-Din Khel, which is part of the second part of Hesa ​​district of Kohistan. Mr. Fayez emphasized that these people were first wounded by a Kalashnikov shot, but they died in the hospital. He added that this incident happened on (Monday, 7 Mizan). The spokesperson of the Kapisa Police Command stated that the cause of this incident was family enmity. Abdul Fattah Fayez says that two people have been arrested by them in connection with this incident. This event happened while the caretaker government, after regaining control, started door-to-door inspections to collect "illegal weapons" in all parts of the country. After the caretaker government regained control over Afghanistan, the mysterious murders of women, children and young people have increased unprecedentedly throughout the country. Mental illnesses, personal enmity, forced marriages, family violence and mental pressure caused by poverty and unemployment are the main factors of these murders. Also, with the dominance of the caretaker government in Afghanistan, the majority of institutions supporting women's rights have stopped. As in the past, women in Afghanistan can no longer complain about violence against them by referring to judicial institutions, and such violence remains stable and increases.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has announced that due to rapid urbanization and climate change, Kabul's groundwater may be depleted by the year 2030 In a message posted today (Tuesday, November 8) on its X account, the organization stated: "If we act now, we can halt this trend." The UN agency emphasized that Rosa Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, along with Tajuddin Ouyvaleh, the agency's representative in Afghanistan, visited several areas in Kabul suffering from water shortages. The purpose of their visit was to find solutions to address the water scarcity in these regions. It is worth noting that in recent years, residents in various areas have faced severe water shortages. Ongoing droughts in recent years and excessive drilling of deep wells are believed to be factors contributing to the decline of groundwater in Kabul. Previously, UNICEF had reported that 8 out of 10 people in Afghanistan drink unsafe water, and 93% of children live in areas that are highly vulnerable regarding water access. Additionally, OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that climate change has reduced families' access to water by 60% in Afghanistan. Signs of climate change in Afghanistan include declining groundwater levels, flooding, rising temperatures, reduced precipitation, untimely rainfall, and changes in humidity.

With the publication of a new report by Richard Bennett, the organization's special human rights rapporteur for Afghanistan, the United Nations has announced that women in the caretaker government's prisons have been harassed and "sexually assaulted". The United Nations has published a report saying that some reliable sources have testified about the harassment and "sexual assault" of women in the prisons of the current government. The report states: "Reliable information shows that during this repression, some women were raped or sexually harassed." This 23-page report was published late last night (Monday, 7th of Scorpio) on the United Nations website, which examined the human rights situation in Afghanistan from January to August 2024. The report states that Mr. Bennett is deeply concerned by numerous reports of sexual violence against women in prisons. She has documented sexual violence against women who were arrested during the crackdown of the current government in January 2024 for wearing an "inappropriate" or "bad hijab." The arrested women said that they were transferred to the police stations and were beaten and verbally insulted, and in some cases, they were sexually assaulted. However, a number of imprisoned women have told Bennett that although they have not experienced sexual violence in prison, they have been insulted and humiliated by society and their families. One of these victims said: "During the interrogation, I was beaten, my head was hit against the wall. "One of them [current government forces] tore my clothes and touched my private parts." According to Richard Bennett's findings, the policies of the current government have deprived women of their basic rights. Also, in a part of this report, the arrest of women on the charge of not complying with the dress code of the caretaker government is mentioned, and it is stated that some of them were transferred to police stations and were insulted and humiliated. According to the UN special rapporteur, gender violence in Afghanistan has worsened. He described the current situation in Afghanistan as a clear example of "gender apartheid" and emphasized that the gender repression of the current government can be an example of a crime against humanity. According to this report, cases of depression, anxiety, isolation and even suicide have increased among women and girls in Afghanistan. Bennett is expected to present his new report on Afghanistan to the UN General Assembly early next month. This is despite the fact that there were already reports about the harassment of women in the prisons of the current government, which were denied by the government officials.

Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, has recently stated that the severe regression of women's rights and their exclusion from government and societal roles in Afghanistan is "clearly" visible. Ms. Mohammed made these remarks at a United Nations meeting regarding the status of women globally, emphasizing that support for Afghan women must be strengthened and that their rights, agency, and participation should be defended at every opportunity. She stressed that the international community and human rights organizations emphasize the support for the rights of women and girls, but there is still a need for greater solidarity and collective action in this regard. During this meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General also reminded attendees that the United Nations and its partner organizations worldwide continue to support women and girls suffering from violence and crises. According to her, this support includes providing food, shelter, access to healthcare services, psychological and social support, and creating job opportunities for affected women. Amina Mohammed added that since 2016, the Women, Peace, and Humanitarian Fund has supported over 1,300 local women's organizations in crisis-affected countries and has achieved significant milestones in supporting women's rights and their participation. However, Ms. Mohammed emphasized that the global community still needs to make greater efforts to mobilize financial resources and support local women's organizations to achieve set goals and ensure that women can access their rights. While Ms. Mohammed underscores the importance of respecting the rights of women and girls, the interim government has closed schools and universities to girls for the past three years. Despite widespread reactions and repeated calls from the international community to lift these restrictions, the interim government has yet to show any flexibility. It should be noted that the current government's restrictions have resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of education. In addition, women are banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Local sources from the Lal wa Sarjangal district of Ghor province say that the caretaker government forces have prohibited the sale of agricultural products, including wheat, lentils, and chickpeas, to residents of other districts and provinces. At least three sources from Lal wa Sarjangal reported to the Goharshad media today (Saturday, November 5) that local officials of the current government have informed farmers and shopkeepers in this district that they are not allowed to sell their agricultural products to residents of other districts and provinces, and that all their products must be sold within Lal wa Sarjangal. One source stated that the caretaker government forces came to the market in Lal and warned the people that anyone who disobeys this order would be arrested and punished. Another source mentioned that government forces arrested a resident of Lal wa Sarjangal for selling wheat to a resident of the Sang Takht and Bandar Daikundi district due to this prohibition. He added that the government forces also turned back a vehicle carrying sold wheat from the road, and the person who was arrested was released after a few hours through the mediation of local elders from Lal wa Sarjangal. The source emphasized that this order from the current government has created many problems for the people of this district. It remains unclear whether this order was issued by officials of the caretaker government in Kabul or if local officials made such a decision "arbitrarily." The source added, "Last year, local officials also imposed restrictions on the sale of certain agricultural items by the people of Lal wa Sarjangal." The source stressed that if these restrictions are not resolved, farmers in this district will face numerous challenges. Additionally, one source stated: "The livelihoods of the people in this district depend on income from selling agricultural products, and if they cannot sell these products, they will face many difficulties. People use the income from their agricultural sales to purchase other necessary goods." The source noted that in addition to "ushr" (a form of tax), current government forces collect 10,000 Afghanis from vehicles transporting agricultural products in this district. Residents of Lal wa Sarjangal are calling for the caretaker government's attention to the situation of the residents of this district and for their complaints to be addressed. Local officials of the current government in Ghor have not yet commented on this matter. It is worth mentioning that residents of the Hazara-inhabited Lal wa Sarjangal district have previously complained about discriminatory treatment from the current government.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, reports that cases of polio in Afghanistan have significantly increased in 2024. In a published report, the organization stated that by mid-October of this year, 22 cases of polio had been recorded nationwide, indicating a notable rise compared to previous years. The report further explains that this increase is primarily due to poor sanitation conditions and insufficient access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas. UNICEF emphasized that it launched a project in early 2024 in regions of eastern Afghanistan where water samples tested positive for the polio virus in 2023. The aim of this project is to improve sanitation, enhance hygiene, and mobilize communities to combat the spread of the polio virus. Additionally, the report notes that as a result of this initiative, there have been significant changes in the number of water samples testing positive for the polio virus; while in 2023, positive water samples more than doubled, this number has drastically decreased since the project's implementation in 2024. UNICEF stated that although the overall polio statistics in Afghanistan continue to rise, none of the 22 confirmed cases in 2024 are from areas where UNICEF's pilot project has been implemented. The report suggests that if this initiative is expanded to other regions of Afghanistan, it could provide hope for reducing polio cases nationwide. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has reported 22 positive polio cases in Afghanistan this year. According to existing reports, only 12 positive polio cases have been recorded in Kandahar this year. Polio cases have also been documented in Urozgan and Helmand in the south, as well as in Kunar and Nuristan provinces in the east of the country. Last year, six positive cases of childhood paralysis were recorded in Afghanistan, all in Nangarhar province. It should be noted that currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated. So far this year, there have been reports of 28 positive polio cases in Pakistan, with a significant portion occurring in the border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center reports that following a directive issued by the local administration of Badghis province prohibiting the broadcasting of live images, all television activities in this province have ceased. In a statement, the center noted that local authorities from the caretaker government in Badghis issued an order banning the use of live images by media outlets and journalists, limiting media activities to written and audio content. The statement described this decision as a severely regressive step that restricts media freedom. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has urged the current government officials to reconsider this decision. It was further stated that this directive was officially communicated by the Department of Information and Culture in Badghis via messaging apps like WhatsApp to media outlets and journalists. The center emphasized that the message from the Badghis Department of Information and Culture indicated that media should only use inanimate images, such as buildings and landscapes related to news. Additionally, the statement mentioned that following this order, the national television under the control of the current government in Badghis has been shut down, and the only private television station in the province has also ceased operations. Other media outlets, including radios and independent journalists, have been compelled to comply with this directive. It was also noted that photography and video interviews with local officials in Badghis have been prohibited. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has called for a review of this issue and the lifting of media restrictions imposed over the past three years. The center stated that media should be able to operate freely and in accordance with the country’s media laws. This comes as Badghis becomes the third province after Kandahar and Takhar to officially implement such a ban. The center has reported signs of the enforcement of these restrictions in Helmand, Logar, Wardak, and Daikundi provinces as well. In August of this year, the caretaker government approved a new law titled "Commanding Good," which prohibits the broadcasting of live images in its seventeenth article.