UN Women and the Protection of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: An Analysis of Interventions and Challenges from 2010 to 2024

Abstract

Background: Discrimination against women in Afghanistan has become one of the most persistent human rights issues, particularly under the Taliban regime, which has imposed restrictions on women’s access to education, employment, and participation in public life. In this context, international organizations such as UN Women play an important role in promoting gender equality and protecting women’s rights through various empowerment and advocacy programs.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the role and contribution of UN Women Asia and the Pacific in addressing discrimination against women in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2024.

Methods: This research employs a qualitative descriptive-analytical method using secondary data obtained from official UN Women reports, publications by international organizations, academic journals, books, and previous studies related to women’s rights and gender issues in Afghanistan.

Results: The findings reveal that UN Women successfully implemented several empowerment programs, including girls’ scholarship initiatives, women’s livelihood training under the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) framework, and gender-based violence (GBV) response services. These programs improved women’s access to education, economic participation, and legal protection during the period 2010–2020. However, the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 significantly weakened these achievements through restrictive policies targeting women, resulting in more than 80% of school-age girls being excluded from secondary education by 2023.

Conclusion: The study concludes that UN Women has played an important role in supporting women’s rights and empowerment in Afghanistan, particularly through international advocacy and community-based programs. Nevertheless, sustainable progress in gender equality requires stronger international cooperation.