Mental health among women in Afghanistan is deteriorating, UN report finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: A disturbing report from U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has revealed a sharp decline in the mental health of Afghan women since the Taliban assumed power resilience to climate disasters to access to reliable electricity
• It cited a significant rise in anxiety, isolation, and depression amongst the surveyed women

🔭 The context: This survey interviewed 592 Afghan women across 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, amidst an environment of stringent and oppressive policies of the Taliban against women's resilience to climate disasters to access to reliable electricity
• In particular, restrictions on education, work, and public life have contributed to the women's sense of isolation and hopelessness

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The extreme restrictions on female education and rights have propelled Afghanistan into international scrutiny, with the plight of Afghan women and children being a focal point at the United Nations General Assembly

⏭️ What’s next: The international community, balancing between recognizing the Taliban government and advocating for women's rights, has a crucial role to play in the future of Afghanistan's resilience to climate disasters to access to reliable electricity
• Afghan women are seeking international support for mental health initiatives, access to scholarships, and safe migration options

📈 One stat: The survey found that 81% of women had not engaged at all with local Taliban authorities on issues important to them between April and June 2023, signaling a widespread disengagement and lack of trust in the current regime

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