Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: A Global Health Crisis for Women's Rights

Written by Ameena Momand

Gender apartheid is the systematic segregation, discrimination, and oppression of individuals based on their gender, often through laws, policies, or cultural practices that deny one gender—typically women—equal rights, freedoms, and opportunities in society. Gender apartheid intersects with the field of global health because it denies women access to essential healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, which are crucial for individual and community well-being. When half of the population in Afghanistan is excluded, it leads to higher maternal and child mortality rates, mental health crises, and limited progress in combating diseases.

Afghanistan is one of the few countries in the world in which the female suicide rate is higher than that of males. Many young women have taken their lives because they did not want to be confined in a country with a regime that prohibits them from receiving an education, from being employed, from walking in public areas without a male guardian or “mahram” (Male guardian prohibited for marriage in Islam), etc. These are just some of the edicts the Taliban has issued since their takeover in 2021 when the United States withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years of war and conflict. But these edicts are not new, and come as no surprise, since the Taliban similarly issued these restrictions on women prior to 2001 when the United States had invaded Afghanistan initially. The higher female suicide rate in Afghanistan portrays the devastating impact of gender apartheid on women’s mental health and its broader implications for global health equity. Denial of education, employment, and autonomy creates cycles of isolation and despair, worsening mental health crises among women. This disparity also reveals significant gaps in global health priorities, where the intersection of mental health and gender-based oppression often goes overlooked.

Another health conflict that arises due to gender apartheid in Afghanistan is how the Taliban don’t allow women to pursue higher education, such as becoming doctors. The Taliban also don’t allow women to work as doctors anymore. But simultaneously, the Taliban has ruled male doctors can only treat patients of their own gender, so males again. This is a harsh restriction that neglects the health of women, who can only be treated by female physicians, but female physicians cannot work at the same time. This portrays the Taliban’s deliberate dehumanization of the female population in Afghanistan that sends a simple message of “we don’t care about your health, nor about what happens to you as a result of your health being neglected due to our gender apartheid restrictions.” This deliberate dehumanization creates a ripple effect, not only exacerbating the health crises among Afghan women but also perpetuating cycles of inequality and suffering that extend across generations. Without access to female doctors or adequate care, preventable diseases, childbirth complications, and untreated illnesses become widespread, further marginalizing women. The Taliban’s policies don’t just harm individual health but also undermine the fabric of Afghan society, as the well-being of women directly impacts families and communities. Calling attention to these issues is critical for mobilizing global attention and action, as they reveal the urgent need to advocate for Afghan women’s rights as a foundation of public health and human dignity.

Afghanistan is also experiencing a devastating hunger crisis, with millions on the brink of starvation and acute hunger on the rise. This crisis is exacerbated by the Taliban's policies, which disproportionately harms women and deepens the impact of gender apartheid. With women barred from working in most sectors, including humanitarian aid/NGOs, and denied the ability to contribute to household incomes, families lose critical support that could alleviate poverty and hunger. The exclusion of women from education and employment also limits community resilience and economic recovery, further compounding food insecurity. The Taliban’s restrictions directly undermine global health efforts by preventing equitable access to resources and care. Starvation disproportionately affects women and children, whose nutritional needs are often deprioritized in male-dominated households. Gender apartheid, in this context, not only isolates women from participating in solutions but also exacerbates malnutrition, maternal health complications, and the intergenerational effects of hunger.

A country cannot thrive and will not survive without its women. Women do not only uphold their families but are also vital to the economic, social, and cultural development of any nation. They are teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and leaders who shape the future of society. Throughout history, when women have been allowed to flourish—through access to education, work, and equal rights—societies have seen remarkable progress in every sphere: from public health to economic stability, and even in advancing social justice.

Depriving women of their rights, freedom, and presence in the public sphere, however, has devastating consequences. When women are forced to stay at home, denied education, or excluded from the workforce, the entire country suffers. It’s not just a loss for individual women, but for the collective potential of the entire nation. Without access to education and the opportunity to participate in the workforce, a nation loses an untapped pool of talent, creativity, and leadership. Societal development stagnates, economic progress falters, and public health and education systems collapse under the strain of not utilizing half of the population's potential.

The systemic oppression of women not only harms individuals, but it also undermines a country’s ability to move forward. History has shown time and again that nations thrive when all citizens, regardless of gender, are empowered to contribute and participate fully in society. A country that excludes women from its vision of progress, from education and leadership to the economy and healthcare, condemns itself to a future of inequality and stunted growth.The path to sustainable development, peace, and prosperity can only be achieved when women are recognized, respected, and given the rights they deserve. Sahar from Atlantic Council says “My

hope is that every Afghan woman remembers her worth and the power she holds. We are the backbone of this nation.”

As the writer of this blog, the restrictions that my community and my women face in Afghanistan are deeply personal to me. I acknowledge the immense privileges I have as an Afghan woman in the United States. And the access to education and health I have, but this is also at the expense of my immigrant parents who sacrificed everything for their children to have the opportunities they didn’t have, their siblings didn’t have, their parents didn’t have, their friends didn’t have, their cousins didn’t have, their village was similarly deprived of, etc. The resiliency of my parents starting from nothing in the United States and creating a safe space for their five children to pursue their studies and express themselves freely further illustrates the strength and perseverance of Afghan women such as my mother and the Afghan men such as my father, who uplift these dreams and goals for the women in their lives. My background in public health with a concentration in global health studies also fuels my commitment to advocating for gender equality, access to education, and improved healthcare for women around the world.

References

1. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/inside-afghanistans-gend er-apartheid-listen-as-women-reveal-the-impact-of-the-talibans-oppressive-decrees/

2. https://hologic.womenshealthindex.com/afghan-womens-health-and-lives-brink 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnhvvBchL-M