Since December 2022, universities in Afghanistan no longer accept female students. As of March 3rd 2023, girls over sixth grade can no longer go to school and women are officially banned from most public-sector jobs.
On April 18 the “Afghanistan Socio-Economic Outlook 2023” was release by the UNPD (UN Development Programme), which provides an overview of the consequences of the reassumed power of Taliban since August 2021. The Afghan economy has suffered a sharp blow in the last almost two years, causing the amount of people living in extreme poverty to increase dramatically to 85% of the population, with a falling GDP pro capita (World Bank, n.d.).
Consequences of the restrictions on women’s rights on the Afghan economy
The international aid to Afghanistan since the return of the Taliban has been enormous, amounting to around 3,7 billion of dollars only in 2022, of which 3,2 were provided by the UN (UN News, n.d.). However, the economic situation of the country is drastic even with the above-mentioned international aid. The GDP pro capita in 2023 and 2024 is expected to keep falling, and a cut in international aid of around 30% could easily lead to the loss of an additional 40% of average income. The explanation of these consequences is that the Afghan economy is relying too heavily on international aid to survive. The UN has, indeed, forecasted a total aid amount of 4,6 billion dollars to assist Afghanistan recovery and survival during 2023 (UN News, n.d.). The aid will aim to help around 28,3 million people in need of assistance.
The main point of the disastrous economic situation of the country according to Surayo Buzurukova, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Afghanistan, is that the Taliban are preventing women from working and studying, reducing drastically the current and prospective workforce available to the country. In fact, in a simulation to see what the consequences on the economy would be if women were able to work, it was discovered that reducing poverty and pushing growth in the country can be defined as nearly impossible if women will be kept banned from working.
Following the above-mentioned conclusion, UN Security Council condemned de facto rulers of Afghanistan’s decision to ban women from working for the United Nation on April 17, 2023, asking to the Taliban to reverse their decision as soon as possible for the sake of the whole country. The resolution was passed unanimously by the 15 members of the body in New York. They call for a safe, equal and full participation of women to the workforce in Afghanistan.
Education system and workforce crisis following Taliban’s ban on women’s job opportunities
Since the Taliban forces toppled the Government in July 2021, which was previously democratically elected, many rights have been suppressed for women. Therefore, getting them back to work and study would only be a first step in a very long road to reacquire many other fundamental human rights. Among the many bans implemented by the Taliban, women have been restricted from circulating freely and working for NGOs.
Following the ban of women from attending high school and university in Afghanistan, another serious threat to the quality of education to be reached by 2030 has emerged. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has been critical towards the Afghan situation, defining it “one of the gravest educational challenges of our time." (UN News, n.d.). Education is, indeed, a long-term investment for a sustainable future. It is fundamental to have more educated women in the workforce, a crucial element for the growth of the country.
Overall, the international aid given is not enough alone, and for the country to recover there is a strong need to enable women to work and study. Many bans are making NGOs’ job harder and harder every day, jeopardizing the already very precarious situation regarding gender equality and fundamental human rights, which are being mostly denied to women through gender persecution.
Bibliography UN News. (s.d.). Tratto da https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135762 UN News. (s.d.). Tratto da https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1136162 UN News. (s.d.). Tratto da https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135467 World Bank. (s.d.). Tratto da https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=AF
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