The impact of Taliban policies on Afghan women continues to raise alarm bells among international observers and human rights organizations. A recent report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) highlighted severe restrictions on women's access to education, healthcare, and employment, which collectively endanger their health and well-being.
One of the most concerning aspects of the SIGAR report is the Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada's decree issued in December 2023, which bans women from participating in medical training programs, including nursing and midwifery. This policy effectively eliminates the last available pathways for women seeking higher education and critically jeopardizes their access to medical care. According to the report, “The edict endangers women who cannot be treated by male medical providers without a male guardian present—or at all.” It predicts alarming trends, such as maternal mortality rates rising by 50 percent by 2026 if these policies remain intact.
Compounding these issues, the Taliban has issued three additional directives restricting women's access to education and employment, which include mandates to cover windows viewing women's spaces, thereby isolatings them from public life. The report succinctly states, “These latest restrictions follow a pattern of intensified measures to control the Afghan populace.”
Worsening the humanitarian crisis, SIGAR noted the Taliban's recent overhauling of Afghanistan’s education system by prioritizing madrassas over traditional schooling—an alarming shift away from subjects like science and mathematics. This educational regression could undo decades of progress made for Afghan youth under previous governments.
Another pressing issue outlined by SIGAR is the increasing malnutrition crisis among vulnerable populations, particularly children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. The report highlighted the extensive struggles faced due to the Taliban's restrictive policies, which have hampered humanitarian aid efforts. This includes data from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) indicating rising food insecurity amid prolonged drought and economic instability within Afghanistan. Experts have raised concerns about various forms of malnutrition, including wasting and stunting, which pose significant risks to the physical and mental development of children.
The harsh realities of these policies resonate deeply with the members of the Afghanistan Women’s National Cricket Team, who recently made headlines for their first match after years of being sidelined since the Taliban regained control. Since August 2021, Afghan women have faced systemic restrictions on sports participation. The team’s first friendly match against the Women’s Cricket Team Without Borders ended with a seven-wicket loss, but sports advocates argue it symbolizes resilience. Amnesty International, embracing the team's return, has urged the cricketing world to support Afghanistan’s women and pressure the Taliban to lift “severe restrictions” on the rights of women and girls.
The importance of sports as both cultural and social platforms cannot be understated. The Afghanistan Women’s Cricket Team's presence on the field, even under such dire circumstances, highlights their strength and the potential for growth under unfriendly conditions. “The international community must continue to push for the Taliban to lift all bans on women’s participation,” Amnesty International asserted, reinforcing the need for global support to help restore the rights of women and girls.
No area of health remains untouched by the Taliban's women's healthcare policies. A report from the French newspaper, Le Monde, revealed significant reductions of female medical staff at the French Hospital in Kabul. Of 280 female medical staff, only 124 remain, painting a grim picture of the healthcare workforce available to half of the nation's population. Éric Cheysson, the head of the hospital, indicated, “The Taliban’s anti-women policies are depleting Afghanistan’s healthcare workforce,” highlighting imminent risks and challenges for the nation's healthcare system.
These reports point to enforced separation of male and female personnel and patients, reflecting the Taliban's oppressive management styles even within hospitals. Indicators show healthcare access is dwindling as restrictions tighten, and organizations, including the International Red Cross, are scaling down operations due to insecurity, resulting in rising patient numbers as healthcare facilities close.
Despite such setbacks, there’s some hope through initiatives aimed at supporting Afghan women athletes. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has set up the global refugee cricket fund to support displaced communities, with the Afghanistan women cricketers being prime beneficiaries. “Cricket has the power to inspire, unite, and empower,” said MCC secretary Rob Lynch, pointing to the sport's potential impact on Afghan women’s lives.
The MCC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) encourage the cricketing world to gain momentum by supporting these female cricketers and advocating for safe training environments, educational opportunities, and platforms for growth. “The cricket community must take action, to support the brave Afghan women,” stated ECB deputy chief executive Clare Connor, emphasizing the community's responsibility to amplify women's voices in sports.
Overall, as the Taliban's control solidifies, the stakes for Afghan women rise higher. The international community has the power to influence change through persistent advocacy against these regressive policies, providing support for women seeking rights to education, healthcare, and sporting opportunities, and facilitating pathways for empowerment against systemic hurdles. Symbolically, the women's cricket team's recent return to the field reminds us all: even amid oppression, hope and resilience endure.