The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released findings from a recent survey involving Afghan women, revealing significant concerns regarding the potential recognition of the Taliban.
Interviews with 745 women across Afghanistan's 34 provinces showed that nearly 67% view the recognition of the Taliban as a move that could exacerbate the women’s rights crisis and increase the risk that the group would reinforce and expand existing restrictions targeting women and girls.
According to the survey, 32% of respondents advocate for the Taliban's recognition only if all imposed restrictions on women are completely lifted.
The report details that 25% of the women are in favour of recognition after the removal of a quarter of the existing restrictions. However, 28% firmly believe that the Taliban should never be recognised under any conditions.
A separate survey conducted by UNAMA in July 2023 highlighted that an overwhelming 96% of women prefer that any recognition of the Taliban be contingent on significant improvements in the situation of women or not happen at all.
The United Nations has explicitly stated that the Taliban has introduced 50 laws targeting women's rights directly. Earlier women's protest groups claimed more than 80 such decrees issued by the Taliban.
The recent arbitrary detentions executed by the Taliban have instilled fear among women, many of whom now hesitate to leave their homes or venture onto the streets.
The study found that 57% of participants, accounting for more than half of the women surveyed, are afraid to exit their homes without a "mahram" (male family member), highlighting that each new Taliban decree exacerbates women's anxiety levels.
Remarkably, only 1% of the women surveyed believe they have a significant or complete influence on community-level decision-making.
The report further points out a drastic decline in women's participation in family decision-making, plummeting from 90% in 2023 to 32% by January 2024.
Afghan women have thus urged the international community against recognising the Taliban without first ensuring the removal of restrictions on women and girls. Additionally, the report notes women's expressed disillusionment with countries that pursue relations with the Taliban, disregarding the group's oppressive treatment of women.