Taliban's Continued Erosion of Women’s Rights: The Closure of Nursing and Midwifery Institutes
On December 3, 2024, the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan ordered the closure of midwifery and nursing institutes, effectively banning women from pursuing education in these essential medical fields. This decision is the latest in a series of oppressive policies aimed at erasing women from public and professional life since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
The Taliban, a Sunni Islamist and ultraconservative nationalist movement, founded in the early 1990s, ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. During their first regime, they provided a safe haven to al-Qaida in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks. Ousted in 2001 by the US-led invasion, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan after the US withdrawal in 2021. Their movement is characterized by a strict interpretation of Quranic law, which has led to a severe and merciless curtailment of civil liberties, especially for women, as well as suppression of political opposition and religious minorities.
Since their return to power, Afghanistan's civil society has been steadily eroding under the influence of Taliban values, which have taken deep root into society, hindering international efforts to intervene, but also severely jeopardizing the status and rights of women within the country. Indeed, since 2021, the Taliban have systematically dismantled women’s rights, in a series of restrictions and measures that over the past three years have led to the extreme limitation of women’s freedom. With the imposition of restrictive dress code, and the limitations in their possibility to move and speak, women are now unable to go out without a male relative (mahram) accompanying them. Being banned from public sector jobs, women now cannot work in the judicial system, in the government, and cannot operate in NGOs. The restrictions culminated in August 2024 with a law forbidding women’s voices from being heard in public spaces.
The latest ban on women studying or practicing midwifery and nursing is particularly devastating. This restriction prevents women from accessing the medical training needed to care for other women, especially important in the Afghan society, where male doctors are only allowed to treat women if they wear a full hijab and are accompanied by a mahram. The consequences of these measures are severe, and maternal mortality rates, already high in Afghanistan, are expected to increase.
Beyond religious justifications, these restrictions may stem from the Taliban’s fear of losing control. Indeed, an empowered, educated female population poses a direct threat to the patriarchal society that supports their rule. By isolating women, restricting their freedom, and suppressing their voices, the Taliban aim to prevent the formation of a united and progressive society—a strategy that resembles the Roman tactic of “divide and conquer.”
Despite these repressive measures, women continue to resist. Since 2021, women protested for their rights, risking imprisonment, torture, and even death. Underground schools have emerged as symbols of rebellion, offering education to girls despite the immense danger to students and teachers. The schools are located even in the country’s south, the largest tribal and conservative region. For example, Wazhma Tokhi, an exiled Afghan women’s rights activist and education campaigner, founded Pohana Fund, which supports 21 secret girls’ schools in southern Afghanistan. These schools allegedly teach Islamic studies, to gain community acceptance, but include secular subjects like math, science, and literature, taught in secrecy.
The Taliban’s systematic erosion of women’s rights is not only a tragedy for Afghanistan but a reminder of the global struggle for gender equality. While their regime continues to impose fear and control, the courage and resilience of Afghan women is a powerful example of the human spirit's ability to resist oppression. For the women of Afghanistan, education remains not just a right but a vital pathway to freedom and hope.