Sangah Siddiqi, a human rights activist, has recently announced that she has been nominated by a political party as a candidate for the Zoetermeer Municipal Council in the Netherlands. In a statement, Ms. Siddiqi said that her goal is to promote the meaningful role and participation of women in decision-making processes. Zoetermeer is located in the south of the Netherlands and has a population of more than 119,000. She emphasized that municipal councils in the Netherlands are local decision-making bodies responsible for approving urban policies and regulations, endorsing budgets, overseeing municipal performance, and conducting strategic urban planning, while representing citizens in local decision-making. The municipal council elections in Zoetermeer are scheduled to be held on (18 March). Ms. Siddiqi migrated from Afghanistan to the Netherlands 17 years ago and currently works at the Dutch Ministry of Finance. She has been nominated for the city council elections by the Democrats 66 (D66) party. Democrats 66 is considered the largest political party in the Netherlands, having won the parliamentary elections and expected to introduce its cabinet in the near future. Ms. Siddiqi says that her commitment to politics—especially regarding the meaningful role and participation of women at decision-making tables—is a serious and conscious choice. She believes that women, drawing on their lived experiences, sense of responsibility, and deep connection with society, can make politics more humane, fairer, and more accountable. She stressed that this candidacy is not merely a personal step, but an effort to strengthen the voices of women, people with migrant backgrounds, and all citizens who seek a just, open, and inclusive society based on equal opportunities. Sangah Siddiqi’s nomination comes at a time when the current authorities, following their takeover of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the nationwide shortage of healthcare personnel across Afghanistan. These measures by the current authorities have resulted in millions of school-age girls being deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from attending sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

UN Women has recently announced that in 2026 it will support women’s leadership across the world, pursuing this not merely as a promise but as a right. In a report published on its official X account, the organization wrote that UN Women is today a global force operating in 109 countries, providing a wide range of services to four billion women and girls. UN Women further emphasized that the organization plays the role of a global advocate and seeks to remove barriers to women’s participation in parliaments, peace tables, and other decision-making arenas. The organization also added in part of its report that its activities are focused on strengthening women’s leadership in all regions of the world, with the aim of bringing about change in the lives of women and girls and advancing gender equality at the international level. This comes as the United Nations speaks of upholding women’s rights while the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. Most recently, they have closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the healthcare sector across Afghanistan facing a severe shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

UN Women has recently announced that if the current situation continues, hundreds of millions of women and girls will still be living in extreme poverty by 2030. In a report, the organization stated that if conditions do not improve, around 351 million women and girls will remain in extreme poverty by 2030, and the world will fail to achieve the goal of gender equality. Part of the UN Women report notes that this situation is the result of insufficient investment and structural neglect of women’s rights; however, with the necessary investments and actions, improvement is still possible. UN Women further emphasized that by investing in closing the “gender digital divide,” more than 343 million women and girls could benefit, and 30 million people could be lifted out of poverty. The organization added that gender equality is the foundation of peace, development, and human rights, and must become a serious global priority. This criticism of the global situation of women comes as the current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In their latest restriction, they have also closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the fact that the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a severe shortage of personnel. These actions by the current authorities have caused millions of female students to be deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a mahram (male guardian), and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Amid the continuation of nationwide protests in Iran, the “Free People in Exile Movement” has recently stated that Afghan asylum seekers in Iran are facing systematic deprivation and lack access to basic necessities. Members of the protest movement said in a statement that the situation of Afghan asylum seekers in Iran is “critical,” calling for urgent attention to and assistance for them. The statement notes: “Access to basic food supplies for Afghan asylum seekers in Iran has been limited or effectively blocked.” The Free People in Exile Movement further emphasized that this situation constitutes a “clear violation of fundamental human rights, the principle of non-discrimination, and the right to life,” and that its continuation significantly increases the risk of a silent humanitarian catastrophe. The movement also called, in part of its statement, for the intervention of the United Nations—particularly the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights—to assess and contain this crisis. Members of the movement demanded guarantees for immediate, safe, and non-discriminatory access for Afghan asylum seekers to food, healthcare services, and basic necessities. They also stressed the need to halt arbitrary detentions and forced deportations, establish special protection mechanisms for Afghan asylum seekers in Iran, and called for the acceleration of international support, resettlement processes, and the creation of safe pathways for asylum seekers in emergency situations. This comes as, over the past more than four years, many members of the former government’s security forces, civil servants, journalists, and human rights activists who migrated to neighboring countries have still not been able to obtain visas to resettlement countries.

Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, has recently unveiled a room named “Afghan Women and Girls” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain. A number of women’s rights activists attended the ceremony, including Fawzia Koofi, a former member of the Afghan parliament. José Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Spain will continue its support for Afghan women and girls. He emphasized that the purpose of unveiling this commemorative plaque is to honor Afghan women and girls who are fighting for their rights and freedoms. He added that Spain’s foreign policy will continue to support Afghan women and ensure that their voices are heard. Over the past four years, Afghan women and girls have faced severe restrictions and have been deprived of their basic rights, including education and employment. During these four years, despite global criticism of the Afghan caretaker government’s policies against women, the authorities have intensified their restrictive measures. After taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities barred women and girls from education. Most recently, they also closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, despite the nationwide shortage of healthcare personnel across Afghanistan. These actions by the current authorities have left millions of female students out of school and higher education. In addition, women have been banned from attending sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, 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.

Alice Macdonald, a member of the British Parliament, has recently stated that if the UK government turns its back on the “crisis of women’s rights, gender apartheid, and impunity in Afghanistan,” it would not only be betraying the women of that country but would also constitute “a betrayal of women around the world.” In a statement delivered in the British Parliament, Ms. Macdonald said: “We cannot abandon them. As a party that is now in government and has always defended women’s rights at home and abroad, we must play our part. If we turn our backs on this crisis, on gender apartheid, and on impunity in Afghanistan, we will not only have betrayed Afghan women, but women across the world as well.” The British MP further emphasized that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is “devastating,” but that her country and the world must not give up, because Afghan women have “certainly” not given up. She believes that Afghan women are determined and inspiring and that, despite the challenges they face, they continue to find ways to run businesses and remain active on the front lines. Alice Macdonald also stressed, in a quoted remark: “Without confronting the systematic oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan, we will never achieve global equality. The importance of this issue cannot be overstated—not only for Afghan women, but for the rights and freedoms that women around the world have fought so hard to secure.” She added that this is not only a moral issue but also a security issue, as gender equality is essential for achieving lasting and sustainable peace. The British MP concluded that, therefore, global values and British values must be upheld and proudly demonstrated, to serve as a sign of hope for the oppressed around the world, and that everything possible—especially by the UK—should be done to support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. This defense of the rights of Afghan women and girls comes as the de facto authorities, since returning to power in August 2021, have gradually stripped women of most of their fundamental and human rights, including banning them from attending schools beyond grade six and from universities.