UN Human Rights Council Issues New Warning on Women’s Rights and Poverty in Afghanistan
The United Nations Human Rights Council has expressed concern in its latest report about the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan and the decline in international aid to those in need, stating that nearly 22 million people require humanitarian assistance this year.
The report, which reviews the situation in Afghanistan from August 2025 to January 2026, cites Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who noted that since the Taliban’s return to power, restrictions on women and girls have expanded, with numerous orders and regulations issued to enforce these limitations.
According to the report, bans on women working in UN-related institutions, restrictions on their employment in government offices, and the continued denial of education to girls are among the serious concerns raised. The High Commissioner emphasized that without the active participation of women and girls, progress in any country is impossible.
The report adds that millions of Afghans face multidimensional poverty, with limited access to education, employment, sufficient food, safe drinking water, and healthcare services. Based on assessments presented, approximately 21.9 million people, nearly 45 percent of the country’s population, require urgent humanitarian aid this year.
The document also highlights that an unprecedented reduction in global aid, the return of around three million Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, the negative impacts of climate change, and the displacement of thousands due to conflicts along the disputed border with Pakistan have further worsened the humanitarian situation.
The UN Human Rights Council has called on the Taliban administration to lift restrictions on women’s work and education. The Taliban has yet to officially respond to this latest report but has previously dismissed similar UN and human rights organizations’ reports as baseless, maintaining that it ensures the rights of all citizens within the framework of Islamic principles.
Meanwhile, several analysts believe that after decades of war and hardship, Afghanistan needs comprehensive progress in education and the economy more than ever. Political analyst Akhtar Muhammad Rasikh said the country faces severe economic challenges and that if international mediation is facilitated, tensions with Pakistan ease, and job opportunities are created for the people, there is potential to overcome the economic crisis.
This report comes as other UN agencies have recently warned about funding shortages that threaten the continuation of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan and have called on the international community to increase emergency aid for those in need.
