‘No matter what,’ UN Women vows to stay in Afghanistan amid deepening rights crisis

The agency is operating in what it describes as the world’s most serious women’s rights crisis, where women are almost four times less likely than men to access formal justice. However, the programs remain active and reach hundreds of thousands of people in need.

“Despite restrictions on women and girls and current conflicts… no matter what, UN Women stays and delivers in Afghanistan,” said Susan Ferguson.

In 2025 alone, UN Women helped safeguard access to life-saving services for more than 350,000 women and girls and supported nearly 200 women-led civil society organizations.

However, operations continue to face significant limitations. In a country where women’s services must be provided by women, the agency is calling for the ban on Afghan UN staff and contractors accessing UN facilities to be lifted.

“We continue to find ways to operate,” Ferguson said, “and support those who need support most.”

Oppression intensifies

Ms. Ferguson emphasized the impact of Decree No. 12 issued by the Taliban earlier this year, which formally eliminates equality between men and women before the law and authorizes violence against women by allowing husbands to carry out punishments, including physical violence, in the home.

“We call on de facto authorities to ensure that laws and policies protect the rights of women and girls in line with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations,” said the UN Women representative in the country.

Ferguson warned the international community about “normalization.”

“When we start to accept this as normal, we stop believing that it can change…Change is still possible, but only if the world continues to support Afghan women..”

High cost of conflict

After an airstrike in Kabul on Monday night reportedly killed hundreds of people, more than half of them women and children, Ms Ferguson said “women and children are paying a heavy price for the continued violence”.

At least 64,000 people have been affected by the military escalation with Pakistanjust over half of them women and girls.

Amid ongoing hostilities with Pakistan and conflict in the Middle East, “for many women, This is the second or even third time they have been forced to flee in the last year..”

She anticipates “a Sharp increase in Afghans returning from Iran in the coming weeks, including women traveling alone or with children..”

With more than 10 million women and girls already expected to need humanitarian assistance this year following a deepening economic crisis and disruption caused by the August 2025 earthquake, “price increases linked to conflict in the region will make things even more difficult for families.”

Urgent shelter needs

Initial assessments by the UN and its partners show that women’s most urgent needs are housing, healthcare and clean water.

UN Women is also mobilizing resources to expand cash support to female-headed households, provide them with wellness kits and help them start small businesses.

Despite these initiatives, UN Women faces 50 percent funding gap for its work in Afghanistan in 2026 and almost $500 million is still needed.

Ferguson appealed to the international community, saying “we urgently need more funding to meet these needs at this critical time… If the current hostilities continue, the needs will only grow.”