UN Women: 52% of Afghan Women Leave Home Twice or Less a Month

DID Press: A new report by UN Women shows that restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan, five years after the Taliban returned to power, have significantly affected their freedom of movement, access to education, mental well-being and outlook for the future.

According to the report, 52 percent of women said they leave their homes twice or less a month, while 96 percent of men go outside every day. In addition, 90 percent of women said they need permission from a male family member to leave home, while 75 percent said they feel unsafe outside without a mahram (male guardian).

Social isolation has also been accompanied by a deterioration in women’s mental well-being. About 70 percent of women described their mental health as poor or very poor, while 59 percent said their mental health had worsened. The situation was reported to be more severe among women who rarely leave their homes.

The report, based on a nationwide survey of more than 2,800 people conducted in 2026, said 76 percent of women had experienced reduced access to education since the Taliban came to power. Sixty-five percent of women also said their lives had become worse compared with the period before the Taliban’s rule.

Despite the restrictions, Afghan women continue to identify education, equal rights, economic independence and social participation as among their most important aspirations for the future. About 40 percent of women ranked equal rights for women and girls among their top priorities.

UN Women warned that continued restrictions would not only reduce women’s opportunities today but could also affect future generations by narrowing Afghan girls’ perceptions and opportunities regarding education, employment and participation in society.