Over Half of Women’s Organizations in Afghanistan at Risk of Closure, UN Warns
UN Women has announced that more than half of the organizations supporting women in Afghanistan are at risk of closure due to reduced international aid and restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration. The agency released a new report on Thursday (July 16) which examined the situation of 74 women’s support organizations.
According to the report, three main factors have weakened these organizations: a sharp decline in financial resources, a ban on hiring women, and limitations on women’s mobility imposed by the Taliban administration. Many of these organizations serve as the last access points for women and girls to vital services.
The report’s findings reveal that nearly three-quarters of these organizations faced budget cuts in 2025, and two-thirds stated that their remaining funds would only last for six months or less. Additionally, about 50 percent of these organizations have not received any new funding since the beginning of 2025.
The report adds that 92 percent of these organizations have lost some of their staff and are now at risk of completely halting operations. As a result, 66 percent of beneficiaries no longer have access to services such as healthcare, psychological support, vocational training, humanitarian aid, and income-generation programs.
Furthermore, two-thirds of these organizations have reduced educational programs and support for women’s income, and 58 percent have limited services related to combating violence against women. This ongoing trend comes amid widespread Taliban-imposed restrictions on women’s work and social presence, which had already severely undermined their access to essential services, raising further concerns about the future of women’s support in Afghanistan.
