Overview
- UNICEF, in a report released Monday, warns Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 health workers by 2030 if current bans stay in place.
- More than 1 million girls have been barred from secondary school since 2021, a total UNICEF projects could exceed 2 million by 2030 if the policy continues.
- Female participation in the civil service fell from 21% to 17.7% between 2023 and 2025, and the number of female basic-education teachers dropped over 9% to about 66,000 by 2024.
- Fewer female health workers means many women skip care because social norms restrict visits to male providers, cutting access to maternal, newborn, and child health services.
- UNICEF estimates the restrictions already cost about AFN 5.3 billion ($84 million) a year and urges the de facto authorities to reopen secondary schools for girls as donors keep support flowing.