Afghan women face severe justice access barriers, with UN report showing only 14% can access formal justice vs. 53% of men, sparking protests and calls for rights restoration.

On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2026, a UN report revealed Afghan women are nearly four times less likely than men to access formal justice, with only 14% reporting access compared to 53% of men, citing discriminatory laws, weak protections, and social norms. Despite government claims of upholding women’s rights under Sharia, no response was given to the findings. Women across Afghanistan protested, calling conditions a form of gender apartheid, while former president Hamid Karzai urged the Taliban to reopen schools and restore women’s rights. UN agencies stressed that restoring women’s access to education and employment is vital for national recovery.