UN Chief Says Women, Girls Are Being Erased From Public Life in Afghanistan

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has again condemned the education bans on women and girls in Afghanistan, saying they are being systematically pushed out of public life. In a post on X on Tuesday, he also praised Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai for her continued advocacy for the rights of women and girls, especially in Afghanistan.

Guterres’ remarks come as international concern over conditions for Afghan women continues to grow. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s education, employment and public participation, measures rights groups and many activists have described as gender apartheid.

In a previous report, U.N. Women said this year had already been extremely difficult for Afghan women, but that the recent conflict with Pakistan had made conditions even worse. The agency said women and children made up many of the civilian casualties and warned that displacement, insecurity and rising prices were hitting women especially hard.

That same report said more than 64,000 people in eastern Afghanistan had been affected by the violence, with women and girls accounting for more than half. It also warned that repeated displacement, poor access to shelter, healthcare and clean water, and growing risks of abuse had deepened the crisis for women already living under severe restrictions.

Girls in Afghanistan remain barred from secondary schools and universities, while women face tight limits on employment in many sectors. These restrictions have sharply reduced access to education, income and independence for millions across the country.

International pressure has so far failed to reverse the bans. No country has formally recognised the Taliban government, and diplomats have repeatedly linked any path toward recognition to clear changes in policies on women’s rights and education.

Guterres’ latest comments add to a growing chorus of U.N. officials and rights advocates warning that Afghanistan’s rollback on gender equality is worsening, not easing. His public support for Malala also highlights the continuing international campaign to keep global attention on Afghan women and girls.

Despite years of condemnation and pressure, the Taliban have shown no sign of reversing their position. For many Afghan women and girls, that means deeper exclusion from classrooms, workplaces and public life, with the wider humanitarian crisis making an already harsh reality even more severe.

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