Afghanistan country briefing

This brief on Afghanistan from the Gender, Justice and Security Hub looks at the country context, including issues around protracted and ongoing conflict, the fraught progress towards peace, issues with Taliban control following the taking of Kabul in 2021, and the rolling back of limited progress on gender. The Hub’s work in the region has used a range of research methods, including qualitative interviews and policy analysis, to explore the intersection of gender, justice, and security. Projects also used several innovative participatory methods, such as storytelling, photography, and other forms of visual art. This work identified the following challenges: large-scale displacement and loss of homes, cultural identity preservation amidst displacement, economic instability and lack of sustainable livelihoods, gender-specific challenges in conflict zones, limitations of peacebuilding and reconstruction capacity, as well as issues around health and hygiene accessibility. This brief details the greater challenges faced by women as a result of displacement, and high levels of anxiety about the future among both men and women, as well as ongoing issues surrounding health and hygiene, educational gaps (particularly for women) and early marriage. The brief also details how women’s craft, especially embroidery, plays a crucial role in preserving cultural identity; that the COVID-19 pandemic forced the adaptability of cultural practices and highlighted their resilience, and that women were keen to join crafting projects not only for economic stability but also as it offered a sense of empowerment and community involvement. The brief goes on to offer some recommendations for policy makers to aid displaced Afghans, including around economic empowerment, educational programmes, women’s health, mental health services and legal protections.
Gender Justice and Security GCRF Hub (2024) Afghanistan Country Briefing