Shortly after seizing control of Afghanistan, the Taliban implemented a series of right-violating policies that severely affected women’s access to education and employment. One of their initial actions was the closure of schools for girls above grade six. In December 2022, the Taliban issued two additional decrees prohibiting women from attending universities and working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Furthermore, in January 2023, they released another decree that prevented women from participating in university entrance exams.

The consequences of these decisions have been devastating. The number of women enrolled in Afghan universities plummeted from over 100,000 in 2021 to zero in 2022. Similarly, the enrollment of high school girls decreased from 1.1 million to zero. These draconian measures not only impact the lives of girls and young women within the country but also have far-reaching implications for the future of Afghanistan.

In response to these distressing developments, the APT team initiated efforts to gather and document the messages and stories of young women from various provinces in Afghanistan. Their aim is to raise awareness and amplify the voices of these courageous individuals, shedding light on the dire situation faced by Afghan women under the Taliban’s rule.