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UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) verified that at least 52 women and one girl were arrested or detained in Herat and Kabul between July and September, while other women were threatened with arrest.
The actual number could be much higher, the mission said in a statement, because fear and stigma stop many cases from being reported.
Pattern of abuse
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the rights of women and girls have been severely restricted, leaving them unable to receive secondary education, find work, and are invisible to the public.
The recent arrests were related to alleged violations of the de facto authority’s dress code requirements, according to UNAMA.
Many of the women were detained for not wearing a veil, having visible hair, wearing a scarf or colorful make-up – or being in public without a mahram (male guardian).
“The women were released after spending several hours in detention,” the mission reported.
Beatings, threats
Concerned by incidents involving verbal abuse, beatings and threats against women – including female shopkeepers – UNAMA reiterates that these actions violate the rights of women and girls to freedom of movement, expression and autonomy.
Arrest and detention also expose women and girls to severe social stigma and further marginalization, UNAMA said.
The mission urges the de facto government to stop discriminatory law enforcement practices targeting women and girls, ensure respect for the human rights and dignity of all Afghans and uphold Afghanistan’s obligations under international human rights law.
Record it again
At the same time, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) just released new findings about critical needs and barriers to reintegration for nearly 6.5 million Afghans who have returned from Iran and Pakistan since 2023.
“Afghanistan is receiving returnees at a scale and pace that requires ongoing support beyond the point of arrival,” said Mihyung Park, IOM’s head of mission in the country.
“The findings show that Many returnees intend to stay and rebuild their lives, but their ability to do so depends on access to livelihoods, safe shelter, documentation and essential services. as well as support for the communities that receive it.”
That Overview of Resilience of Returned Refugees also examines the household situation of undocumented returnees and individual returnees who have been in Afghanistan for at least eight months since their arrival.
Key findings:
- Among those aged 14 years and over, 53 percent did not complete their educationhalf had no specific experience and 69 percent had not worked in the 30 days before the interview
- 82 percent returned as householdwith an average size of 6.1 members
- 58 percent are under 18 years old
- 77 percent live in temporary shelter while 51 percent do not have enough living space.
- Meanwhile, 21 percent of household respondents reported that all household members had documentation 43 percent did not have the necessary documentation to access related services
Read the full report Here
These findings underscore that support for returnees must extend beyond their point of arrival, IOM said, calling for continued investment in durable solutions.
The UN migration agency also called for an area-based reintegration approach that strengthens livelihoods, shelter, documentation support and access to basic services for returnees and host communities, helping to build the conditions necessary for long-term stability, resilience and social cohesion.
