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Abstract
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Afghanistan is a landlocked country located between the Middle East, central Asia, and south Asia, with a population of more than 30 million people, composed mainly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. The Afghan conflict began in 1979 with the Soviet Union's invasion, followed by a Mujahedeen revolt. Following the defeat and withdrawal of Soviet forces, the Taliban movement began to end the civil war and to establish Sharia rule across the nation. By the end of the 1990s, the Taliban had succeeded in overthrowing the Mujahedeen administration. During their time in power, essential services and access to basic needs were depleted, and women were oppressed and marginalised.
Following the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York (NY, USA) on Sept 11, 2001, the Taliban regime was ousted by Western coalition forces, and the Taliban retreated to rural regions. After two decades of occupation, armed forces led by the USA withdrew completely from Afghanistan on Aug 30, 2021, and the Taliban has since taken over control of the country, with looming fears of an authoritarian regime that is unlikely to respect women's rights.
Mental health surveys are limited in the current political context of the country, but a recent publication stated that 47% of women were found to have high psychological distress. The provision of health services, including psychiatric services, in Afghanistan has been substantially diminished by the armed conflict. Afghan women are exposed to severe trauma, interpersonal violence, and patriarchal attitudes in society. Traditional ways of living and customs, such as Pashtunwali, early marriage, and adolescent pregnancy, could further hinder opportunities for women to obtain an education, develop skills, and inherit properties.
Women have restricted opportunities to engage in employment or entrepreneurship, and to earn for themselves. Stigma around mental ill-health leads to deprived access to psychological support. Poverty, food insecurity, and starvation for women and their children occur in the context of extreme weather conditions. Women are oppressed by inconsistent and unpredictable changes in governmental rules and regulations, unavailability of legal counsel and advice, and the way in which the traditional justice system operates. Afghan women are losing fundamental rights under the Taliban regime: girls are prevented from attending school, obligations are imposed to wear the Burqa, long-distance travelling has been banned, and access to public facilities has been curtailed.
Afghan women have experienced a volatile environment for decades and they are resilient to never-ending obstacles. They show the desire for achievement, wealth, and independence. However, after the Taliban takeover and as a result of economic collapse, aggravated by the armed conflict...
Language: en |