Stephanie Luz, head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Afghanistan, states that many rural citizens are migrating to cities. Ms. Luz identifies job opportunities, livelihood, better education, and income generation as major reasons for the migration of Afghan citizens to urban areas. She emphasized that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is "dire," which is part of the challenges they face. The head of the UN Human Settlements Programme in Afghanistan said, "The caretaker government has enacted laws that deprive women of public life." She added, "On one hand, it is crucial to ensure that women can still access some public spaces; but at the same time, it is particularly important to provide them access to ensure that suitable places are made available for them." Stephanie Luz mentioned that the United Nations is currently consulting on how to create culturally acceptable spaces in the current environment, as well as providing areas where women can meet outside their homes and find ways to leave their homes. While this UN official describes the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan as dire, the current government has imposed severe restrictions on women and girls since regaining control over the country. The caretaker government has banned women and girls from education, work, freedom of movement, and raising their voices outside their homes. Additionally, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has recently stated that the current government's new laws have restricted the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens.

The United Nations Population Fund has announced that Afghanistan is one of the most challenging places in the world for women to give birth, with a mother dying every two hours due to preventable complications related to childbirth. In a report, the organization stated that Afghan women and girls are facing challenges stemming from prolonged conflict and restrictions imposed by the interim government. The report noted that the World Population Organization is providing services to women and girls to ensure their access to healthcare, support, and opportunities they deserve. According to the United Nations Population Fund, fragile healthcare infrastructure and limited access to health and reproductive services, especially in rural areas, pose serious risks to mothers and newborns in Afghanistan. The report highlighted that over the past three years, Afghanistan's prolonged crisis has been exacerbated by widespread economic instability, restrictions on women's work and education, forced return of migrants, and large-scale displacement. The organization emphasized that it has provided healthcare services to over one million people across the country each month. Piyu Smith, the regional director of the United Nations Population Fund for Asia and the Pacific, stated, "Only this year, the UN Population Fund has assisted over 660,000 Afghan youth, 80% of whom are women, through special youth communication programs. These programs provide healthcare services and livelihood support, including skills development for young people." It was further mentioned that climate change has also intensified the emergency situation in Afghanistan. Severe weather events have seriously impacted women's and girls' access to healthcare services. Recent floods have claimed lives and deprived some communities of vital maternal and reproductive health services. Mr. Smith indicated that the organization requires more resources to expand assistance to women and girls throughout Afghanistan. The World Population Organization continues to urge the international community to stand alongside Afghan women and youth. While the World Population Organization reports on maternal mortality in Afghanistan, the European Union has also expressed concern over this situation in the country. It should be noted that Afghanistan has had the highest maternal mortality rate during childbirth for years due to a weak healthcare system.

Abdul Ghani Saeed, the head of the caretaker government's appellate court in Jowzjan, stated that 22 people, including four women, were punished in public at a stadium in this province. Mr. Saeed mentioned that the whipping sentence for these individuals was carried out on Tuesday, November 5, at the stadium in Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan province. He emphasized that these individuals were whipped for crimes including adultery (sexual relations outside of marriage), drug trafficking, production, and consumption of alcohol in public. He added that the accused received between 25 to 29 lashes and were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from one month to one year. Additionally, the Supreme Court of the current government stated on Tuesday, November 5, in separate announcements that one woman and one man were whipped in Kabul, two men were whipped in Paktika province, and another man was whipped in Maidan Wardak province. The announcement indicated that the primary court in Kabul sentenced one woman and one man to one year and six months in prison for adultery and whipped each of them 39 times. The Supreme Court reported that two individuals were sentenced to eight months in prison for "sodomy" in the Khusamand district of Paktika and received 36 lashes. Furthermore, another announcement stated that government forces in the Saydabad district of Maidan Wardak province sentenced one man to two years in prison for "sodomy" and also whipped him 39 times. The announcement noted that these individuals were whipped in the presence of local judicial, administrative, and military officials of this group, along with a number of citizens. Since regaining control over Afghanistan, the caretaker government has repeatedly whipped accused individuals in public and executed five people in front of hundreds of spectators. Human rights organizations consider executions and corporal punishment to be against international laws and human dignity, calling for their cessation.

Officials from the Ministry of Education of the caretaker government state that the current government's priority for enhancing the quality of education in Afghanistan is religious schools. Mawlawi Karamatullah Akhundzada, the Deputy Minister for Islamic Education at the Ministry of Education, mentioned at a workshop aimed at improving the educational capacity and professional skills of teachers in religious schools that the government's main focus is on strengthening religious schools and enhancing the quality of education within them. Akhundzada added, "Thank God, we have thousands of religious schools in Afghanistan." He emphasized that the first condition for improving the quality of education in religious schools is to recruit the best teachers. Media reports indicate that similar workshops have been launched in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan to strengthen religious schools and provide more support to the teachers and students of these institutions. The Ministry of Education is focusing on strengthening religious schools at a time when education for girls above sixth grade is banned in Afghanistan, and women and girls are also deprived of higher education and employment opportunities. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, there are currently 21,257 religious and jihadist schools and 18,337 public schools operating in Afghanistan. With the takeover of the caretaker government in Afghanistan, jihadist schools have been established across the country by order of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the current government. Additionally, increasing restrictions on women, including their exclusion from education and employment, have led world governments to not recognize the current regime. United Nations officials have repeatedly used the term "gender apartheid" to describe the situation of women in Afghanistan, and the Security Council, Human Rights Council, and General Assembly of the United Nations have held multiple meetings urging the leaders of the current government to revoke decrees against women. However, none of these restrictive decrees have been lifted in the past three years. It should be noted that just a week ago, Khalid Hanafi, the Minister of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated in a speech to a gathering in eastern Afghanistan that according to Islamic laws, women are not allowed to say "Subhanallah" (Glory be to God) and "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to God) aloud even while performing prayers.

Sky News' sports section has reported that since regaining power, the interim government has not only banned women from education, parks, and offices but has also prohibited them from participating in sports. Some female athletes were forced to burn their sports uniforms to avoid being identified. The report states that after the current government's resurgence, the Afghanistan women's cricket team left the country and sought refuge in Pakistan. They later received emergency visas for Australia, and most of them now live in that country; however, after three years, their situation remains unchanged, and according to Sky News, they have become disillusioned with the international community. Furthermore, Amnesty International has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pay attention to the status of the women's cricket team and urged them to continue supporting this team. Previously, Stephen Cockburn, the head of economic and social justice at Amnesty International, stated: "The Afghanistan women's cricket team is a symbol of the women of this country, and the international cricket community owes these pioneering athletes the support they deserve. This support could send a strong message about the global consensus condemning the horrific treatment of these women." He added that while the ICC has rightly committed to anti-discrimination values, it must cease ignoring the brave Afghanistan women's team and provide them with appropriate support and recognition. This comes after the chairman of the International Cricket Council stated in November 2021 that the council is committed to supporting the development of both men's and women's cricket in Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time such a request has been made by human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch also described the situation of women under the current government as "a form of gender apartheid" in 2023.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, states that the Hazaras and Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are facing violent attacks from ISIS, as well as discrimination and marginalization in various aspects of life by the interim government. Mr. Bennett made these remarks at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York, expressing deep concern over the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, particularly the Hazaras. He emphasized that many Hazaras are Shia Muslims who are unjustly restricted in their religious practices, especially during the month of Muharram. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights stressed the urgent need for accountability and effective protective measures against violence and discrimination against Hazaras and other ethnic and religious minorities. During this meeting, he presented his new report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, which documents violence against ethnic and religious minorities and instances of "sexual assault and abuse" against women in the country’s prisons. The UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan noted that the current government introduced a law on "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" about a month after participating in the third Doha meeting, which not only intensified restrictions on women but also imposed limitations on the freedoms of religious minorities and media. The UN Special Rapporteur called for a unified approach from the international community to improve the human rights situation in Afghanistan, stating that a comprehensive, coordinated, and rights-based program must be adopted and implemented.

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.