Taliban Restrictions on Women; Annual Loss of $84 Million to Afghan Economy

Kabul Times News | Kabul

The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education and employment are costing the Afghan economy at least $84 million annually.

According to a UN report cited by Bloomberg, the Taliban’s policies on women’s education and employment have deprived about 3.8 million girls of education, in addition to the economic consequences.

The report also points to the broader consequences of these restrictions on Afghanistan’s economic and social future.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has also said that until the Taliban lift the restrictions on women and girls, the group will face serious obstacles on its path to international legitimacy.

UNESCO had previously warned that the continued ban on secondary and higher education for girls and women could wipe out billions of dollars in Afghanistan’s economic revenue by 2030.

Bloomberg also warned of the security implications and increased instability resulting from the continuation of these policies in Afghanistan and the region.

The continued restrictions on women's education and employment come at a time when economic experts and international institutions consider women's participation in education and the labor market to be important factors for economic growth and social stability in Afghanistan.