According to United Nations agencies, the limitations enforced by the Taliban on women and girls are projected to result in a 25% rise in child marriages among Afghan girls.
UN Women, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have issued a joint two-page report. This report sheds light on the obstacles that Afghan women are confronting and their appeals to the international community.
As per the concise report, if the Taliban continues to enforce restrictions on women and girls, there will likely be a 25% increase in child marriages, a 45% rise in early childbearing, and a 50% higher risk of maternal mortality. Presently, the brief indicates that 82% of Afghan women perceive their mental health as poor.
Additionally, Afghanistan stands as the sole nation globally that prohibits girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Furthermore, Afghan women are barred from pursuing higher education.
Despite the constraints imposed by the Taliban, a joint report by UN agencies highlights that Afghan women persist in advocating for their right to lead dignified lives.
In their brief, UN Women, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) emphasized Afghan women’s plea to the international community: to maintain attention on Afghanistan’s situation and to reinstate women’s rights. This includes access to education and employment, as well as participation in public decision-making.
Meanwhile, several analysts have highlighted the absence of a global policy to tackle these restrictions. Political analyst Nesar Ahmad Sherzai underscored that forced marriages represent only a fraction of the challenges obstructing girls from pursuing their education.
The United Nations Women’s Section asserts that forced marriages are just a minor aspect of the challenges impeding girls’ education. However, the United Nations, reputable international organizations, and influential nations are well aware of the primary and substantial barriers hindering girls’ education. Unfortunately, they are not actively engaged in essential and principled efforts to eliminate these constraints for the girls and women of Afghanistan.
Previously, numerous countries, such as the United States, advocated for the removal of restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan. They emphasized that the Taliban would not receive official recognition unless they ensured the protection of women’s rights.
