UN Women has recently announced that organizations supporting women and girls in Afghanistan are facing funding shortages, yet they continue their efforts to assist survivors of violence. The organization stated today (Sunday, November 30) in a message posted on its X account on the occasion of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” that it continues to support women at risk. UN Women further emphasized that organizations supporting women and girls have lost about one-fifth of their budget this year. According to the statement, due to cuts in assistance, women’s support organizations have received less than 60% of the funding they need. This decline in funding comes at a time when Afghan women and girls are facing increasing restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities. Meanwhile, over the past two years, violence against Afghan women has increased by 40%. The current authorities, after taking control of Afghanistan, have also barred women and girls from education and schooling. Most recently, they closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has resulted in millions of school-age girls being deprived of education.

The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has recently announced that it supports the education of girls and women in the country. The delegation wrote today (Saturday, November 29) in a message on its X account, posted on the occasion of “OrangeTheWorld,” that education for all is the key to reducing vulnerability. The EU Delegation further stressed, with an emphasis on education, the importance of building a future free from all forms of violence. The EU highlights the importance of girls’ education at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan faces a severe shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of female students unable to continue their 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 national and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the United Nations says that violence against Afghan women and girls has increased by 40 percent over the past two years.

UN Women has recently announced that the rate of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan is rapidly rising, and millions of women and girls are in urgent need of support and protection. The organization said in a report published day (Thursday, 27 November) that in less than two years, the number of women and girls facing serious risks has increased by 40 percent. UN Women emphasized in part of its report that reduced financial assistance has forced the organization to limit essential services for addressing gender-based violence in Afghanistan. The organization added that currently around 14 million women are in need of support services. According to the UN Women report, women-led local organizations in Afghanistan have lost about one-fifth of their funding. UN Women stated that with the collapse of previous support systems following the return to power of the de facto authorities, millions of women have nowhere to turn, and access to essential services has become severely restricted. The report comes at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has barred women and girls from education and schooling. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current authorities has prevented millions of school-age girls from continuing their education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical examinations from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs, and even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, UN Women has recently stated that women and girls in Afghanistan are in need of global support and solidarity. The organization wrote in a message posted today (Tuesday, Nov, 25) on its X account that renewing global solidarity and protecting the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan is essential. UN Women also emphasized in part of its message the need for flexible financial resources to address gender-based violence and to support local, women-led organizations. The organization further stressed that safe and inclusive access to digital spaces for women is also important for empowerment and reducing violence. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations has called on the world to stand with women and girls in Afghanistan—“today and every day”—and to support their rights. This comes as the United Nations continues to support the rights of Afghan women and girls, while the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has banned women and girls from education and schooling. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, even though the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being 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 national and international NGOs, as well as even UN offices in Afghanistan.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has recently warned that prolonged drought could deprive countless families and children of clean water, their most basic need. The organization stated in a post on its X account that, in cooperation with South Korea, it is constructing water supply systems in 20 areas of Ghor and Helmand provinces. UNICEF has identified access to sustainable water supply systems for families and children as one of the key solutions to addressing this challenge. The organization had previously warned that more than half of the water sources in key provinces have dried up, and 80 percent of Afghanistan’s population uses contaminated and unsafe water for drinking. UNICEF also said that currently, only 5 percent of the required budget for providing access to safe and disaster-resilient water and sanitation systems in Afghanistan is available. The UN Children’s Fund further warned that the impacts of climate change—such as drought, sudden floods, and earthquakes—are undermining the health, nutrition, and abilities of Afghan children. UNICEF had earlier warned that by 2030, Kabul’s water resources will be completely depleted. It is worth mentioning that most schoolchildren in Afghanistan do not have access to safe drinking water. Meanwhile, the Red Cross Committee stated on World Water Day that 33 million people in Afghanistan lack access to safe drinking water. Additionally, UNICEF added in a previous report that it provided safe drinking water in 25 districts of eastern Afghanistan in 2023 and 2024.

Amnesty International USA has recently announced that its annual award has been granted to Pashtana Durrani, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, and Jazmín Romero Epiayu, a representative of a Colombian feminist movement. On Saturday (Qaws 1), Amnesty International said in a statement that the award is given to courageous women who work under difficult circumstances to protect the rights of women and children. The award includes a $20,000 grant. According to the statement, Pashtana Durrani works in the field of girls’ education under the current government and operates the “Learn” school underground. Pashtana Durrani is a Harvard graduate and the founder of the “Learn” school — the first digital school in Afghanistan, which now operates underground to protect Afghan girls. She emphasized: “This award belongs to every Afghan girl who still dreams of learning and every woman who refuses to give up her rights.” She is also the author of the memoir The Last Person Who Eats, the Last Person Who Learns, and has previously received several awards, including the Malala Fund’s Global Education Champion Award and the BBC’s 100 Women Award. The other winner, Jazmín Romero Epiayu, is a representative of the feminist movement for girls and women of the Wayuu people in Colombia. The Wayuu are one of the Indigenous communities of northern Colombia and Venezuela, known for their deep-rooted traditions, connection to nature, and colorful handicrafts. By combining the traditional knowledge of the Wayuu people with modern methods, Jazmín Romero defends the rights of women and girls, as well as the protection of Indigenous lands against violence and illegal resource extraction. This award is being presented to Pashtana at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has barred women and girls from education. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, even as the health sector across Afghanistan faces a shortage of personnel. These actions by the current government have left millions of school-age girls 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 NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.