How have Taliban restrictions affected women’s education and employment in Afghanistan?

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has implemented restrictive policies that have severely curtailed the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. These measures, which have been described by the United Nations and various human rights organizations as "gender apartheid," include significant limitations on access to public life, specifically regarding education and employment.1

The Taliban’s current governance has effectively reversed progress made in previous years, during which women had been able to enter the workforce and attend schools. Under the current administration, the regime has introduced rules that restrict women’s freedom of movement and have largely barred them from participating in the professional labor market and pursuing formal education. These policies have drawn widespread international condemnation for their detrimental impact on the fundamental rights and autonomy of Afghan women.21