Five years of Taliban rule mark deepening rights and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan

Five years after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, human rights organisations warn that the country is enduring one of the world's most severe human rights emergencies, characterized by total restrictions on women's employment, mobility, and public life. Investigations reveal rising rates of unpunished gender-based violence, as state institutions that previously tracked femicides have been abolished.

The human rights crisis coincides with severe economic distress, with approximately 40% of the population requiring urgent aid. A convoy of more than 700 trucks carrying United Nations relief supplies recently entered the country through Pakistan despite strict border restrictions.

Meanwhile, rights advocates continue to highlight judicial barriers facing women in neighbouring Iran, where individuals defending themselves against abuse face severe penalties, including execution.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)