LocationsCreating business opportunities for Afghan women
November 27, 2023
The international community's current attention is focused on Ukraine, Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, however, I hope that we do not lose sight of the serious challenges and difficulties which Afghan people are facing.
In August 2021, U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban began its effective rule. Women have been subjected to severe repression and have lost access to secondary and higher education, as well as jobs in most sectors of the economy. Beauty parlors have been closed, and male relatives are required to accompany women on long-distance journeys. Although there are many Islamic states in the world, the Taliban government is unique in its interpretation of Islamic law and its severe restriction of women's rights.
Currently, millions of women in Afghanistan are told to stay at home with nothing to do, and those who have set up their own businesses that they can do at home still suffer from restrictions and the social norms of society. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has therefore launched a programme to support women's entrepreneurship to increase women's empowerment and enable them to contribute more to their families and communities.
Read the full article in Japanese.
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