Taliban’s Dark Era: Gender Discrimination Against Afghan Women Becomes State Policy

Kabul: The Taliban administration has deprived women in Afghanistan of their rights and freedoms, turning gender discrimination into an official state policy. As a result, the future of Afghan women and girls has been pushed into severe uncertainty and darkness.

According to a recent report by the British publication The New World and international human rights groups, the Taliban regime has imposed a social system since returning to power in 2021 that seeks to completely exclude women from public and national life.

Restrictions on Fundamental Rights and Declining Employment Opportunities

According to the report, girls have been prohibited from receiving education beyond the sixth grade since 2021, while women’s right to work has also been severely restricted.

Statistical and Ground-Level Findings

Decline in Government Employment: Since 2023, the proportion of women in Afghan government jobs has fallen from 21 percent to just 17.7 percent.

Economic Losses: The exclusion of Afghan women from economic activity is reportedly costing Afghanistan more than $84 million annually, with fears that the losses will increase over time.

Health and Education Crisis: The United Nations has warned that the absence of trained female professionals could severely damage children’s basic education, healthcare services and the future of coming generations.

International Response and Human Rights Concerns

Afghan taekwondo athlete and human rights activist Marzieh Hamidi said the Taliban had attempted to erase Afghan women from public life.

She stated:

“By banning education and making discrimination an official state policy, the foundations of a society are being laid in which there is no place for women.”

The international community and human rights organisations have expressed grave concern over the situation, describing the Taliban’s measures as serious violations of human rights.