- Afghan women and girls are experiencing a growing mental health crisis due to restrictions on education, employment, and public life, leaving emigration as their only hope.
"VAN" (International Desk - 25.08.2025) :: Sheila Noori reports Afghan women and girls are experiencing severe psychological distress due to restrictions on education, work, and public life, leaving escape their only hope.
Sheila Noori, founder of “Afghan Women in France,” recently visited Afghanistan to assess the mental and humanitarian conditions of women and girls. She shared their stories with Radio France Internationale, revealing widespread trauma and despair among the younger generation.
During her visit, Noori observed that many women and girls spend their days confined to household chores, with minimal opportunities for education or employment. “They cry because they have no future; families focus on marrying them off, which seems the only option,” she said.
The situation has worsened mental health outcomes significantly. Previously studying or working women now report severe depression, while children are increasingly forced into labor to meet basic family needs. A UN report indicated mental health issues among Afghan women rose 40–50 percent over the past year.
Noori highlighted that despite their dreams of leaving the country, high passport restrictions and costly visas make emigration nearly impossible. Meanwhile, unemployment and poverty continue to escalate, with 48 percent of the population living below the poverty line and over 22 million people requiring humanitarian aid.
Afghan women are urging the international community to act, emphasizing the importance of allowing them access to education and employment. Their collective message stresses that global pressure is necessary to improve living conditions and restore opportunities.
The report underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian support and policies that prioritize mental health, gender equality, and basic human rights in Afghanistan.
Cr - KP
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