"Erasure and Regression: The Toll on Afghan Women under Two Years of Taliban Rule"

Two years after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Afghan women are facing increasing repression and erasure from society. The Taliban has imposed strict rules, including banning women from attending university, working at NGOs, and going out in public without a male chaperone. The closure of beauty salons and restrictions on women's employment have worsened economic hardships. The lack of access to education and healthcare has led to mental health issues, domestic violence, and forced marriages. Despite international condemnation, global attention has faded, leaving many Afghans feeling abandoned. The country's economy has been crippled due to frozen foreign reserves and the cut-off of international funding. Humanitarian aid has also dried up, exacerbating the crisis. As a result, over 1.6 million Afghans have fled the country, while those remaining face an uncertain future.