UN Reports 40% Surge in Violence Against Women Under Taliban Rule
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported a significant rise in violence against women and girls during the two years of Taliban rule, marking a 40% increase in reported cases.
In a new report released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UNAMA states that approximately 14.2 million Afghan women are now in urgent need of humanitarian aid and protection.
The report also warns that many women-led local organizations have lost up to one-fifth of their operating budgets this year. This funding shortfall has forced numerous women’s support projects to be either canceled or suspended.
UNAMA further highlighted that the recent 48-hour nationwide shutdown of internet and telecommunications services in Afghanistan underscored the vital role of digital access for women’s safety, human dignity, and economic survival.
Georgette Gagnon, head of UNAMA, called on the Taliban authorities to lift restrictions imposed on women and girls. She also urged the international community not to reduce its support for the rights of Afghan women.
Despite political and social pressures, the UN praised the resilience and determination of Afghan women, emphasizing their continued active and prominent roles in families, communities, and civil society, even under difficult conditions.
