Written By: A.M
Afghanistan has been a country plagued by conflict for decades, and the rise of the Taliban in the late 1990s marked a new chapter in its troubled history. The Taliban, who have been known for their strict interpretation of Islamic law, have imposed a number of restrictive measures on the Afghan people, particularly women. These measures have led to a situation in which women are denied their basic human rights and are struggling to survive in the face of extreme poverty, hunger, and lack of access to basic needs like education and healthcare.The Taliban’s ban on women working and attending universities has had a profound impact on Afghan society. According to the United Nations, women’s attendance in Afghanistan’s universities increased by almost 20-fold in two decades, but today they are not allowed to pursue higher education in the country. This has had a detrimental effect on women’s empowerment and opportunities for social and economic advancement.Moreover, the ban on women appearing on TV, playing sports, attending secondary school, traveling over 72 km, and accessing healthcare without a male has severely limited their ability to participate in public life and access basic services. These restrictions have effectively turned Afghanistan into a prison for women in the 21st century, and have resulted in a dire humanitarian situation, with 97% of Afghans living in poverty and 20 million people facing acute hunger.The situation in Afghanistan has been described by the UN as “dire,” with half the population urgently needing access to clean water and aid groups having stopped their humanitarian work. In this context, women and girls in Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable, and their situation is only made worse by the Taliban’s ban on their basic rights and freedoms. In conclusion, the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country’s people, particularly women. Their restrictive measures have denied women their basic human rights, including access to education and healthcare, and have contributed to a dire humanitarian situation in the country. It is imperative that the international community speaks up for the rights of Afghan women and works to address the humanitarian crisis in the country
