UN Reports Detail Severe Exclusion of Women in Afghanistan Five Years After Taliban Takeover

Women in Afghanistan have been systematically excluded from public life and the economy since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), female labor force participation plummeted from 16.5 percent in 2020 to 5.1 percent in 2026. This rate is the second lowest globally, surpassed only by Yemen. Among young women, 84 percent are now not in education, employment, or training. This represents a significant increase from 68 percent in 2019.

UN reports indicate that more than 160 decrees have been issued to restrict women's rights, including bans on secondary and higher education and limitations on work, movement, and dress. A UN Women report found that 90 percent of interviewed women require a male family member's permission to leave the house. Furthermore, nearly 40 percent of women reported increased pressure to conform to regime rules due to fear of being denounced by acquaintances. These restrictions have led to a growing mental health crisis characterized by increased stress and isolation.

While both center leaning sources highlight the deterioration of women's rights, they focus on different dimensions of the crisis. One report emphasizes the social and psychological erasure of women from public life and the role of patriarchal norms. The other focuses on the macroeconomic impact, noting that Afghanistan's GDP fell by approximately 15 percent following the takeover and has struggled to return to previous levels. The ILO warned that the country cannot build a resilient labor market while such a large portion of the population is excluded.

Additional economic pressures include the return of over 6 million emigrants from Iran and Pakistan between 2023 and May 2026. This surge, driven by security and policy factors, may halve the influence of remittance inflows into the Afghan economy. While most employment options have vanished, the UN Development Agency noted a tenfold increase in businesses owned by women, though this growth occurred primarily because other employment options were scarce.