Source: UN News: Friday, March 13, 2026 00:01 AM
Women seeking justice in Afghanistan remain challenging and are four times less likely than men to access formal justice systems. A new study by the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) makes it clear that women in the country no longer have safe and effective ways to resolve disputes or hold abusers to account. According to the report, only 14 percent of women reported that they had access to essential services for dispute resolution, while this figure was 53 percent among men. Tweet URL
This is a big difference, which highlights the serious situation of gender inequality in the country. UN organization for the empowerment of women (UN Women), UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOMThese findings are shared by ) based on consultation services across the country in December 2025. More than half of the women consulted said that their access to the formal justice system had worsened over the past year. Women have also seen very little access to informal systems like Jirga and Shura for settlement. These are traditional councils of local elders and mediate disputes. This situation has further limited the opportunities for women to resolve disputes or seek protection. “When large sections of society face obstacles to resolving disputes or seeking protection, it undermines people’s trust in institutions,” said Georgette Gagnon, Acting Head of the UN Mission and Special Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General. Responsible? According to the report, women have largely blamed the ruling Taleban regime for the situation, which has reportedly suspended key institutional and legal systems, including closing the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan. Additionally, the situation is further complicated by the exclusion of female professionals from the legal sector and the end of specialized justice services for women. This pressure has been further increased by ‘Order No. 12’ issued this year by the Taleban, which considers criticism of officials as a crime and can be punished under it, including imprisonment or corporal punishment. © UNICEF/Sayed Bidel The Taleban have also imposed many restrictions on the education of girls of different ages. What is the solution?Participants in the consultation on justice stressed that institutional arrangements are needed to ensure women’s access to justice and that women-centred and women-led dispute resolution systems should be reestablished. They also called for the formation of women-only committees at the community level, as well as the establishment of confidential counseling services and accessible support centers for women, where they can receive legal, psychosocial and safety-related assistance. Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said, “When women are excluded from justice institutions, it undermines their safety, freedom and limited opportunities to seek help outside the home. This is especially important for women who are experiencing domestic violence.”
