Rise in femicide and gender-based violence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

The situation for women in Afghanistan has deteriorated sharply under Taliban rule, with reports indicating a significant rise in femicide and gender-based violence. According to a report by The Guardian, since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there have been hundreds of cases where women have been brutally murdered.

The Center for Information Resilience has documented 332 cases of women being killed by men since the Taliban’s takeover, though this number likely represents only a fraction of the actual incidents, as many crimes are concealed to protect the Taliban’s image.

In addition to these killings, gender-based violence has surged, reflecting the dark reality of life for Afghan women under Taliban rule. An international report highlights that since January 2022, 840 women and girls have been subjected to gender-based violence, with many of them holding the Taliban responsible for their plight.