UN Warns Against Normalising Women’s Discrimination in Afghanistan

Sarah Nibs, deputy representative of the UN Women office in Afghanistan, has warned that normalising the current situation in Afghanistan could lead to the continuation of widespread restrictions against women and girls.

In remarks to the media, she stressed that the international community should not regard the existing conditions in Afghanistan as normal. According to her, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls’ education faces such bans.

The warning comes as girls in Afghanistan remain barred from secondary education, while women continue to face sweeping restrictions in social, educational and work spheres.

UN Women has previously warned repeatedly about the consequences of these restrictions on the lives of Afghan women and girls and has emphasised the need to protect their rights. The body is one of the UN’s agencies focused on the status of women’s rights and their participation in societies around the world.