The Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s rights have escalated, further curbing their participation in public life and limiting their freedoms, according to the latest human rights report from the UN mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). The report covers the first quarter of 2025 and highlights the continuing challenges faced by Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule.
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls have been systematically excluded from equal participation in society. Reports persist of Afghan women being denied employment opportunities, with many unable to access services without a male guardian. Additionally, girls continue to be denied their right to education, while harsh restrictions have been placed on their movement and personal freedoms.
The UNAMA report documents a range of troubling developments, including forced conversions, public floggings, and a shrinking civic space. It also highlights increasing violence against former government officials and activists.
One aspect of the report is the closure of beauty salons and women-run radio stations across the country. Taliban authorities have targeted these businesses, shutting down establishments where women were working independently. In Kandahar, Taliban inspectors have reportedly demanded that shopkeepers refuse service to women unaccompanied by a male guardian (mahram). In one instance, a hospital was ordered not to provide medical care to female patients who arrived without a male relative.
The Taliban has also intensified its enforcement of repressive laws, including corporal punishment and restrictions on media outlets. In a particularly alarming incident, between January 17 and February 3, at least 50 Ismaili men in Badakhshan province were forcibly converted to Sunni Islam under the threat of violence. Furthermore, more than 180 individuals, including women and girls, were flogged in public for offenses such as adultery and homosexuality. These punishments were carried out in public spaces attended by Taliban officials.
Despite the mounting evidence of widespread human rights violations, Taliban officials continue to claim that they are upholding women’s rights. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid defended the regime’s treatment of women in a social media post on March 8, International Women’s Day.
"Ensuring the dignity, honor, and Sharia-based entitlements of women remains a paramount priority for the Islamic Emirate," he stated.
He further asserted that all fundamental rights of Afghan women are being safeguarded in strict accordance with Islamic Sharia law and Afghan cultural traditions.
International calls for action against the Taliban's policies have intensified. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in January for Taliban Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani over allegations of gender-based persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute. However, the Taliban rejected the ICC’s actions, citing national sovereignty and religious traditions as their defense.
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