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ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed &ldquo;serious human rights concerns&rdquo; following the arrest and detention of multiple women in Afghanistan&rsquo;s western Herat province for alleged non-compliance with Taliban-imposed dress requirements. According to Afghanistan International, Taliban authorities launched a large-scale operation in Herat on Saturday targeting women accused of violating the prescribed dress code, resulting in the detention of multiple individuals. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, UNAMA said it was concerned &ldquo;over multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat&rdquo; linked to alleged breaches of dress requirements. The UN mission said the detentions raise &ldquo;serious human rights concerns&rdquo; and urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to respect fundamental freedoms. &ldquo;We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law,&rdquo; UNAMA said. The arrests are the latest in a series of measures imposed by Taliban authorities since their return to power in August 2021.&nbsp; The group has enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, requiring women to adhere to extensive dress regulations and limiting their participation in public life. Over the past four years, Taliban authorities have progressively tightened restrictions on women and girls, barring them from universities, public parks, gyms and beauty salons, while curtailing employment and social opportunities. The United Nations and human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that the cumulative impact of these policies has led to the systematic exclusion of women from public life.&nbsp; UN officials have previously described the situation as one of the most severe women&rsquo;s rights crises in the world.

Afghanistan

UNAMA voiced concern after Taliban authorities detained multiple women in Herat over alleged dress code violations, underscoring growing international alarm over restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan.


UN agency raises concerns over Taliban arrests of women in Herat

ISLAMABAD: In southern Afghanistan, Taliban morality police have detained two doctors in Kandahar for treating female patients who were not accompanied by a male guardian, according to local medical sources and a report from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The doctors were arrested over the past four days in private clinics in the Hazrat Ji Baba area of Kandahar after continuing to treat women despite repeated warnings from officials of the Taliban&#39;s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the sources said. Medical workers said morality officers regularly visit clinics, hospitals and pharmacies across Kandahar and instruct doctors not to examine or treat women unless they are accompanied by a mahram or male guardian. Under the policy, women arriving alone must either be turned away or wait until a male relative arrives, according to healthcare workers. &ldquo;The morality officers come almost every day asking about women&rsquo;s examinations, male doctors&rsquo; work, and even our beards and clothing,&rdquo; one doctor said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. &ldquo;We are under immense pressure and do not know what to do.&rdquo; Healthcare workers said inspections also focus on personal appearance, including beard length, hairstyles and clothing considered by Taliban authorities to be Western in style. &ldquo;The morality officers tell doctors they must grow beards,&rdquo; said one healthcare worker, identified by the pseudonym Ahmad. &ldquo;If someone&rsquo;s beard is trimmed or shaved, they are treated harshly, insulted and threatened.&rdquo; Clinic managers said morality officers patrol different parts of the city daily to inspect private and public health facilities. &#39;Where should they go?&#39;Doctors warned the restrictions could have severe consequences for women&rsquo;s health in Kandahar, where female specialists are in short supply, and many women rely on male doctors for treatment. &ldquo;Many women do not have a male guardian, so where should they go?&rdquo; one doctor said. &ldquo;There are very few female doctors in Kandahar, and most women rely on male doctors. If this is stopped, health problems will increase seriously.&rdquo; In its latest quarterly report released Tuesday, UNAMA said Taliban morality officers in Kandahar, Uruzgan and Paktia had instructed health centers not to treat women without a male guardian. The report also documented detentions and mistreatment linked to clothing, beard trimming and listening to music and said female healthcare workers had been ordered to travel only with a male guardian.

Medical care in Afghanistan - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Action highlights growing restrictions on women’s access to healthcare in southern Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban detain two doctors for treating women without male guardians

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban authorities have removed women from the government payroll, ending reduced salaries for female civil servants who have been barred from working since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, according to a new United Nations report. According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), media outlets reported on Jan. 17 that women were no longer receiving payments in several provinces, effectively terminating their status as government employees. Some women were informed directly by their employers that they had been dismissed, while others discovered they had lost their jobs only when their monthly salaries failed to arrive, the report said. The move marks another tightening of restrictions on women under Taliban rule, which has sharply curtailed their participation in public life, education and employment. The report said Afghan women, including female UN staff, contractors and visitors, have been barred from entering UN premises nationwide since Sept 7, 2025. As of March 31, Afghan women had been unable to access UN offices across the country for 205 consecutive days, the mission said. The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly condemned the measures, saying they amount to systematic discrimination and have deepened the humanitarian and economic crisis facing millions of Afghans.&nbsp;

Women in Herat wearing burqas (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Authorities remove Afghan women from the government payroll, ending reduced salaries for female civil servants barred from working since returning to power in 2021.

Afghan Taliban cut salaries of women banned from government offices: UNAMA

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has renewed its call for the immediate lifting of restrictions on education for Afghan women and girls, marking the International Day of Girls in ICT. According to a report by Afghanistan international, citing a statement released by UNAMA&nbsp;released on Thursday, April 23, access to education for women and girls is critical to fostering innovation, expanding employment opportunities, and ensuring a sustainable future in Afghanistan.&nbsp; The mission warned that the continued ban is not only a violation of fundamental rights but also a major obstacle to the country&rsquo;s development. According to UNAMA, 1,675 days have passed since authorities imposed a ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade. During this time, an entire generation has been deprived of access to secondary and higher education, with long-term social and economic consequences. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have enforced sweeping restrictions on female education, barring girls from attending secondary schools, universities, and other higher education institutions. The policies have drawn widespread condemnation from Afghan citizens, international organizations, and governments around the world. Numerous Islamic countries and global bodies have also called for the reversal of the restrictions, arguing that access to education is consistent with Islamic principles as well as international human rights standards. The Taliban, however, continue to defend their stance, describing the issue as an internal matter. Officials have repeatedly urged foreign actors not to interfere in Afghanistan&rsquo;s domestic affairs. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade, a situation that continues to raise alarm among global advocacy groups and policymakers.

Computer classes in Afghanistan (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan urges Kabul’s authorities to lift the ban on girls’ education, warning it harms rights and the country’s future.

UN renews call to lift Afghan Taliban restrictions on girls’ education

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday voted in favor of a United Nations Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by three months, reaffirming its support for the mission&rsquo;s role in promoting peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan.&nbsp;Speaking at the Security Council following the adoption of the resolution, Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Usman Jadoon said Afghanistan continues to face multiple challenges, including an increasing threat of terrorism, human rights concerns, narcotics issues, and diminishing humanitarian assistance.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said Pakistan supports UNAMA&rsquo;s efforts in addressing these challenges and welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jadoon also commended China for its role as penholder and for efforts to build consensus among Security Council members.&nbsp;He said Pakistan has consistently maintained that the deteriorating security situation and the rise in terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remain among the most serious challenges facing the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;He added that elements within the Taliban administration were collaborating with, or providing a permissive environment for, several militant groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP); the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade; Islamic State Khorasan (ISIL-K); Al-Qaeda; and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).&nbsp;According to Jadoon, these groups operate with impunity inside Afghanistan and are responsible for cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani civilians, law enforcement personnel, critical infrastructure, and public places.&nbsp;He said the Security Council resolution expressed serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, which it said &ldquo;continue to constitute a threat to international peace and security,&rdquo; and called on the Taliban to take &ldquo;active, immediate, demonstrable and concrete measures&rdquo; to combat terrorism in all its forms.&nbsp;The resolution also outlined expectations for strengthening the safe and secure management of weapons and ammunition to prevent their diversion to terrorist groups.&nbsp;Jadoon said UNAMA, as mandated, has a responsibility to monitor and analyze security dynamics across Afghanistan, including gaining a better understanding of the illicit economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;He added that the mission is also expected to support efforts aimed at preventing the illicit trade and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons, as well as their diversion within Afghanistan and the wider region.&nbsp;He further said UNAMA should support efforts to create conditions conducive to the reintegration of refugee populations in Afghanistan.&nbsp;Jadoon also cautioned against what he described as disinformation advanced by local Taliban elements that could create obstacles to UNAMA personnel accessing different parts of the country. At the same time, he said Pakistan expects the mission to report objectively on developments on the ground while taking into account the security concerns of Afghanistan&rsquo;s neighboring countries.&nbsp;He expressed hope that the three-month extension would allow the Security Council to review UNAMA&rsquo;s role in Afghanistan in a manner that contributes to long-term peace and stability in the country and in the wider region.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan voted in favor of a United Nations Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by three months, reaffirming its support for the mission’s role in promoting peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan

Pakistan backs three-month extension of UNAMA mandate at UN Security Council

ISLAMABAD: Afghan women encounter significant obstacles to legal recourse and are almost four times less likely than men to access formal justice systems, according to a new United Nations report published Sunday. Released on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/cup-of-courage-celebrating-womens-resilience-in-dhaka-streets" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Women&rsquo;s Day</a>, the UN findings on access to Formal Justice Mechanisms detail a growing crisis under Afghanistan&#39;s de facto authorities. The gap leaves women without safe avenues to resolve disputes, hold abusers accountable, or seek protection from violence. Barriers to dispute resolution weaken institutional trust and increase vulnerability for both communities and individuals, according to Georgette Gagnon, officer in charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Access to justice remains a fundamental right and a cornerstone of safety and dignity, according to UN Women Special Representative Susan Ferguson. &ldquo;Excluding women from justice institutions damages their autonomy and removes rare opportunities to seek outside help, particularly for those facing domestic violence,&rdquo; Ferguson said. Only 14% of consulted women reported access to formal dispute resolution services, according to the data. In contrast, 53% of men reported having access. UN Women, UNAMA, and the International Organization for Migration conducted nationwide in-person and online consultations in December 2025, according to the report. These consultations reached more than 800&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan women</a>&nbsp;and 160 men. More than half of the consulted women reported worsening access to formal justice mechanisms over the past year. Women attributed the decline to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-calls-on-taliban-to-lift-ban-on-afghan-women-in-its-offices" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan Taliban</a>&nbsp;suspending key mechanisms, including the Ministry of Women&rsquo;s Affairs and Afghanistan&rsquo;s Independent Human Rights Commission. The exclusion of female legal professionals and the loss of women-centered services also contributed to this decline, the report observed. Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government issued &ldquo;decree no. 12&rdquo; on discretionary punishments to courts earlier this year. According to the findings, this decree created additional obstacles for women seeking protection or accountability. Women also have significantly lower access to informal dispute-resolution mechanisms, such as traditional community councils known as jirgas (tribal councils) and shuras (religious councils). This limitation further restricts their ability to mediate disputes. Consultation participants requested actions to strengthen institutional mechanisms that protect access to justice. Participants in the report called for the re-establishment of women-led dispute-resolution systems, including women-only community committees. They also requested support for affordable centers providing confidential legal, psychosocial, and protection assistance. The 2026 global theme for International Women&rsquo;s Day is &quot;Rights, Justice, Action. For all Women and Girls,&quot; according to the UN. This theme demands the dismantling of barriers to equal justice, including discriminatory laws and harmful social norms, according to the report.

Women in Afghanistan are nearly four times less likely than men to have access to formal justice mechanisms. (UNICEF/Osman Khayyam)

A UN report says Afghan women face severe barriers to justice, with only 14% able to access formal mechanisms. Afghan Taliban policies, dismantled institutions, and exclusion from councils worsen protection, leaving women vulnerable to violence.

Articles tagged with "United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)"

UN agency raises concerns over Taliban arrests of women in Herat

Afghan Taliban detain two doctors for treating women without male guardians

Afghan Taliban cut salaries of women banned from government offices: UNAMA

UN renews call to lift Afghan Taliban restrictions on girls’ education

Pakistan backs three-month extension of UNAMA mandate at UN Security Council

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN

UN agency raises concerns over Taliban arrests of women in Herat