How has life changed for women in Afghanistan?

Let's go back to Afghanistan in 1960, we will see gorgeous nature, mountains, fields, forests. These people had freedom in their lives, they could live wherever they wanted, they had lots of opportunities to build their dream life. Children were educated equally; you can see smiling girls because their long school day has just finished. Today Afghan girls can only get education once they turn twelve and they learn only how to do basic things, such as, reading, writing, counting, and a little of science.

In September 2021, the Taliban decreed that women must cover their faces in public and required them to remain in their homes except in cases of necessity. Women are banned from travelling long distances without a male chaperone, and unchaperoned women are increasingly being denied access to essential services such as medical care.

Today, women from Afghanistan cannot survive if they do not have male family member or a husband. They cannot go outside. It is becoming extremely difficult to survive.

“In Afghanistan, girls are not supposed to obtain an extensive education, be in public without a male chaperone, or work outside the home” says journalist and humanitarian campaigner Tamana Ayazi.

Farkhonda Taher, an activist from Afghanistan, once told on an interview with Anna Leach that she considers herself a second-class citizen already at her age, by that I mean she does not see any successful future for herself. However, she also said that “although girls are treated as second class citizens in my community, we should not forget that Afghanistan's situation is changing.” By that she meant that she is desired to change back the situation in Afghanistan ns she will not accept Taliban rule.

While her peers from other countries are struggling because of way too much pressure from their family, and because they have “too much work to do”, Frakhonda’s dreams of having such opportunities.

“Girls in our community face disrespectful cultural traditions. For instance, daughters are sometimes given to a murder victim's family as blood money. Additionally, the economical dependency of girls to their family creates a lot of issues.” Taher explains. Girls in Afghanistan are often forced to make unrecognised sacrifices.

How would you feel knowing that your future is destroyed? That you have no say in your life?

At first there were some protests, but most were unsuccessful and were shut down five months later.

Afghan men carry the economic burden of the family and often must single-handedly support the entire household. Afghan men must work, they must support their parents, their children, and their wife. Do you think that fathers want that future for their children? The saddest thing is that it cannot be changed no matter what they do.

“Decades of progress on gender equality and women’s rights have been wiped out in mere months. And we must continue to elevate the voices of Afghan women and girls who are fighting every day for their right to live free and equal lives. Their fight is our fight. What happens to women and girls in Afghanistan is our global responsibility”, explains UN women executive director Sima Bahous, who is currently fighting for justice in Afghanistan.

To conclude, change in Afghanistan has turned women’s lives upside down. I hope Afghan people will be able to live in a country that they deserve and love, and that justice will prevail.