15 Years of Struggle for Equality; UN Women Warns of Reversal in Women’s Rights in Afghanistan and Beyond
Tawazon — On the 15th anniversary of its founding, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has issued a stark warning: hard-won progress on women’s rights around the world is under serious threat, particularly in countries like Afghanistan, where more than 80 restrictive decrees by the Taliban have severely limited women’s freedoms.
In a newly released report marking its anniversary, UN Women states that women across many nations continue to face deep legal, economic, and social challenges. In Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, girls and women have been banned from secondary schools and universities. The gender gap in the country has become one of the widest in the world.
According to the report, one in every four countries has experienced a rollback in women’s rights. Meanwhile, funding for gender equality initiatives has declined, and progress has slowed significantly.The UN warns that at the current pace, eradicating extreme poverty among women and girls could take another 137 years.
UN Women also highlights that over 600 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of conflict zones. Between 2020 and 2023, approximately 80 percent of global peace negotiations occurred without the involvement of women, despite the UN’s emphasis on the crucial role women play in sustainable peace processes.
In Afghanistan, despite more than 80 restrictive edicts issued by the Taliban, many women have not given up hope. Anita, a former artist and educator, shared her despair: “The colors of the rainbow have faded from my life. I no longer see any color to paint with.”
Yet even amid repression, Afghan women continue to organize at the grassroots level, forming local networks and communities with the dream of reclaiming their rights and building a future grounded d in dignity and equality.
The UN also points to a big global funding gap of $420 billion per year in financing gender equality an obstacle that threatens to derail the work of organizations like UN Women and undermine the broader push for justice and inclusion worldwide.
