Veronika Boskovic Pohar, the European Union’s representative in Afghanistan, says that Afghan women and girls play a unique and decisive role in shaping the future of their country. Marking International Women’s Day, Ms. Boskovic Pohar wrote on her X account that women’s economic empowerment is not only a matter of rights, but also a key factor for Afghanistan’s economic resilience and sustainability. It is worth noting that after the caretaker government regained control of Afghanistan, Afghan women and girls have faced widespread restrictions in access to education, employment, and economic activities. After taking power, the current authorities banned women and girls from education and schooling. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This decision has caused millions of schoolgirls to remain deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a mahram, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan. The policies of the current authorities have led many women and families to lose their sources of income, and their ability to participate in the social and economic life of the country has been severely restricted. International organizations and the European Union have repeatedly warned that excluding women from employment and economic activities will deepen social inequalities and harm the country’s stability and development.

Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, has once again called for the lifting of the ban on education and employment for women and girls in the country. In a message posted today (Sunday, March 8) on his X account on the occasion of International Women's Day, Karzai wrote: “I consider it necessary to appreciate the efforts and historic struggles of the women of Afghanistan for the progress and prosperity of the country and to note that women, at different stages and in various fields, have played a prominent role and made valuable contributions alongside men in the growth and development of Afghanistan.” The former president further emphasized: “On this occasion, and considering the necessity that meeting the essential needs of society today and the country’s progress in the future require the participation of women in all social spheres, I once again stress that schools and universities should be reopened to girls as soon as possible, and the conditions should be provided for women to return to work and actively participate in society.” This comes as the caretaker authorities, after regaining control of Afghanistan, first banned education for girls above the sixth grade and later closed the doors of universities to women and girls. This decision has left millions of female students deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, 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. Experts from the United Nations have described the policies of the caretaker authorities against Afghan women as a “crime against humanity” and stated that these policies could also be considered “gender apartheid.”

The United Nations Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan has recently announced that by supporting women and girls in Afghanistan, it is amplifying their voices and stories. In a message posted on its X account, the fund stated that the resilience, determination, and leadership of women and girls in Afghanistan continue to inspire progress even in the most difficult circumstances. The United Nations Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan also called for listening to women’s voices, supporting them, and reflecting their demands and aspirations. This comes at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan are facing severe restrictions that have largely eliminated their meaningful participation in society. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities have deprived women and girls of education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across the country faces a serious shortage of personnel. This decision has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations and even in offices of the United Nations in Afghanistan.

International media have reported that Yalda Hakim, an Afghan-Australian journalist, has won the “Presenter of the Year” award from the Royal Television Society for her work at Sky News. Sky News said in a statement published on its X account that Yalda Hakim was not present at the award ceremony and is currently covering various reports in the Middle East. The statement added that over the past year Hakim has interviewed several prominent world leaders. One of Hakim’s most controversial interviews was with Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister. During the interview, Asif was asked about financing and training terrorists and responded that his country had done the “dirty work” for the United States for three decades. Yalda Hakim’s recognition as Presenter of the Year comes at a time when 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, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This decision by the current authorities has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations and even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Peel Regional Police in Canada have announced that the case of Mojgan Aini — the wife of a former United Nations diplomat who was last seen nearly four years ago in Mississauga — is now being investigated as a homicide. In a statement, Peel police said that Mojgan Aini, 38, who was also known by the names “Sara” or “Sarah,” was last seen in June 2022. Her family in Afghanistan was unable to contact her until June 2025 and subsequently reported her missing to the police. The statement emphasized that a suspect has been identified in connection with the case, but authorities have declined to release further details. It is worth noting that Mojgan Aini migrated to Canada in 2017 along with her three children and her husband, Mohammad Yama Aini. Mohammad Yama Aini had previously been investigated on allegations of serious assault and was dismissed from his position at the United Nations, although no formal charges were filed against him. Mojgan Aini’s name first made headlines in August 2017 in American and Afghan media when she was reportedly subjected to domestic violence by her husband, Mohammad Yama Aini, a counselor at Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In 2017, the New York Post reported that around noon on Saturday (July 22, 2017, local time), Mohammad Yama Aini allegedly beat his wife, Mojgan Aini, so severely that she was hospitalized. Citing U.S. police, the New York Post wrote that the 46-year-old diplomat allegedly pulled his 30-year-old wife by the hair and struck her in the face and head with slaps and punches, leaving her face and right eye swollen and bruised. Hospital staff in New York reported the incident to the police; however, at the time, authorities were unable to arrest Mr. Aini due to diplomatic immunity. At that time, the Afghan mission adviser to the United Nations in New York denied the assault allegations in an interview with the New York Post, stating: “Nothing happened.”

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has recently stated that the international community has a responsibility toward Afghan women and girls and must not abandon them. In a message posted on his X account, Bennett wrote that the restrictions imposed on women—particularly the denial of the right to education and freedom of movement—may amount to international crimes and must be revoked. He further emphasized that his recent report on women’s access to healthcare services in Afghanistan, which was presented at the sixty-first session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, provides an in-depth examination of the right of women and girls to access healthcare services in the country. It is worth noting that Bennett’s report, presented on Thursday (February 29) at the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, addresses various aspects of women’s access to healthcare and highlights the barriers preventing them from receiving medical services. The report states that women with disabilities face discrimination in accessing healthcare services. Similarly, women in rural areas experience greater limitations in access to medical care, with poverty further exacerbating the situation. According to Bennett’s report, Afghanistan’s health sector is facing a severe shortage of female staff and is at risk of collapse.