AFGHANISTAN is the world's most repressive country for women since the Taliban took control, the United Nations said today.

In a statement released on the International Women’s Day, the UN mission said that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost “singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.”

Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban has imposed harsh measures to restrict many basic rights of women and girls since seizing power in August 2021, after the United States and Nato withdrew forces following two decades of war.

They have banned girls’ education beyond sixth grade and women from public spaces such as parks and gyms. Women are also barred from working at national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and ordered to cover themselves from head to toe.

Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of the mission to Afghanistan, said: “Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights.

“It has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere.”

The restrictions — especially the bans on education and NGO work — have drawn fierce international condemnation. 

But the Taliban claims the bans are temporary suspensions, in place allegedly because women were not wearing the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, correctly and because gender segregation rules were not being followed.

According to the UN statement, 11.6 million Afghan women and girls are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the Taliban are further undermining the international aid effort through their ban on women working for NGOs.