This report highlights the worsening conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban in 2024 as a Recap of months. It documents severe restrictions on education, work, and basic freedoms, as well as reports of forced marriages and abuse.
January 2024
Taliban Deploys Spies at Education Centres to Report About Women’s Hijab
Recently leaked audio files on WhatsApp groups of educational centres reveal the deployment of "spies" in schools to monitor the attire of female students by the Taliban's Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
February 2024
Mandatory Full-Body Covering
Women were required to cover their entire bodies and faces to prevent what the Taliban called “fitna” (social discord).
March 2024
1.4 Million Girls Deprived of Education Beyond Sixth Grade, Says UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced that with the beginning of the new academic year in Afghanistan, 1.4 million girls have still been deprived of education beyond the sixth grade.
April 2024
Taliban Prevents Women From Entering Recreational Area During Eid Celebrations
The Taliban's ombudsmen from the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice hindered women from accessing Gulghondi Hill, a recreational area in Parwan province during the Eid festivities.
May 2024
Taliban Court Forcefully Marries Imprisoned Girls to Their Group Members
A Taliban court in Parwan forcefully married Shahpari, a 25-year-old imprisoned girl, with a member of the group.
June 2024
24 Mothers & 167 Children Die Daily in Afghanistan, Announces WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that daily, 24 mothers and 167 children across Afghanistan die from preventable diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth. (Monday, 06/10/2024)
Human Rights & Women's Representation Excluded From Doha Meeting Agenda
The draft agenda for the Doha meeting, obtained by Afghanistan International, shows that human rights and meetings with representatives of women and civil society are not included.
July 2024
Reduction in Salaries of Female Government Employees
Salaries of female government employees were reduced to 5,000 Afghanis.
August 2024
Taliban Created World's Worst Women's Rights Crisis, Says HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) announced on Sunday that the Taliban has created the most serious women’s rights crisis globally over the past three years.
Enforcement of Religious Morality Laws
A 35-article law imposed extensive restrictions, including mandatory veiling, requiring a male escort, and banning public appearances.
September 2024
Taliban Imprisonment of Women Reaches 1,000 Amid Reports of Widespread Torture
Officials from the Taliban Prison Authority stated that between 10,000 to 11,000 inmates are currently held in prisons across the country. Among them are 1,000 female prisoners and nearly 900 underage detainees.
Taliban Arrests 16 Women in Khost for Not Wearing Proper Hijab & Having Illicit Relations
Local sources from Khost told Afghanistan International that a week ago, the Taliban took 16 women from the women's market and transferred them to the Khost Central Prison.
UN Reported: 38,000 Afghan Girls Do Not Have Access to Higher Education This Year
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) expressed concern over the continued ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan and said that UNICEF would continue to work to return girls to school.
October 2024
Taliban Bans Afghan Women from Hearing Each Other's Voices(October 29, 2024)
The Taliban announced a new rule banning Afghan women from hearing each other's voices, a deeply restrictive measure sparking international outrage.
November 2024
Afghan Girls Mark 1,156 Days Without Education on International Students' Day(Sunday, 11/17/2024)
On International Students' Day, Afghan girls continue to be denied their right to education under Taliban rule, marking 1,156 days since the ban was first imposed.
Women 'Raped' Inside Taliban Detention Centres, Reveals Report by UN’s Richard Bennett(Reuters)
Richard Bennett, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, revealed in his report that "credible sources" testified about sexual harassment and rape of women inside Taliban prisons.
December 2024
Ban on Women’s Education in Health Institutes(The Guardian)
Women were prohibited from studying midwifery, nursing, and laboratory sciences in health institutes.
Regulation of Residential Windows(The Sun)
Orders were issued to alter or block windows to prevent women from being seen while cooking or moving in their yards.
Bans Continued or Reiterated in 2024
Ban on Women’s Work in NGOs(First imposed on December 24, 2022)
Women were barred from working in domestic and international NGOs.
Ban on Girls’ Education in Schools and Universities(First imposed in 2021)
Girls were denied access to secondary schools, high schools, and universities.
Ban on Women Entering Public Parks and Spaces(First imposed in November 2022)
Women were prohibited from entering parks, sports arenas, and recreational centers.
Ban on Women Traveling Without a Male Guardian
Women were prohibited from traveling domestically or internationally without a male guardian.
Ban on Women in Media and Cultural Activities
Women were banned from appearing in television programs, films, and other cultural activities.
Ban on Vocational and Technical Training for Girls
Girls were prohibited from attending vocational and technical training programs.
Severe Restrictions on Women’s Access to Healthcare
Women required a male guardian’s accompaniment for access to healthcare, which was limited to specific conditions.