The UN Human Settlements Programme says fast urban growth in Afghanistan, caused by displacement, forced returns, and the economic crisis, is increasing gender inequality, especially in informal areas and city outskirts.
The Afghanistan office said today (Wednesday, March 25) that surveys in crowded and marginalized communities show that cities have not reduced gender gaps, but instead made them worse.
The organization added that under Taliban rule, most ways to support women’s safety and rights have been removed. These include education, freedom to move in public places, work, and participation in society.
It also said women and girls in informal urban areas face more problems, such as lack of safe housing, unsafe public spaces, limited access to water and sanitation, and fewer job opportunities, which increase inequality.
The data was collected between 2023 and 2025 in Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar, and Nangarhar.
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