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ISLAMABAD: Afghan women encounter significant obstacles to legal recourse and are almost four times less likely than men to access formal justice systems, according to a new United Nations report published Sunday. Released on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/cup-of-courage-celebrating-womens-resilience-in-dhaka-streets" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Women&rsquo;s Day</a>, the UN findings on access to Formal Justice Mechanisms detail a growing crisis under Afghanistan&#39;s de facto authorities. The gap leaves women without safe avenues to resolve disputes, hold abusers accountable, or seek protection from violence. Barriers to dispute resolution weaken institutional trust and increase vulnerability for both communities and individuals, according to Georgette Gagnon, officer in charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Access to justice remains a fundamental right and a cornerstone of safety and dignity, according to UN Women Special Representative Susan Ferguson. &ldquo;Excluding women from justice institutions damages their autonomy and removes rare opportunities to seek outside help, particularly for those facing domestic violence,&rdquo; Ferguson said. Only 14% of consulted women reported access to formal dispute resolution services, according to the data. In contrast, 53% of men reported having access. UN Women, UNAMA, and the International Organization for Migration conducted nationwide in-person and online consultations in December 2025, according to the report. These consultations reached more than 800&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan women</a>&nbsp;and 160 men. More than half of the consulted women reported worsening access to formal justice mechanisms over the past year. Women attributed the decline to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-calls-on-taliban-to-lift-ban-on-afghan-women-in-its-offices" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan Taliban</a>&nbsp;suspending key mechanisms, including the Ministry of Women&rsquo;s Affairs and Afghanistan&rsquo;s Independent Human Rights Commission. The exclusion of female legal professionals and the loss of women-centered services also contributed to this decline, the report observed. Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government issued &ldquo;decree no. 12&rdquo; on discretionary punishments to courts earlier this year. According to the findings, this decree created additional obstacles for women seeking protection or accountability. Women also have significantly lower access to informal dispute-resolution mechanisms, such as traditional community councils known as jirgas (tribal councils) and shuras (religious councils). This limitation further restricts their ability to mediate disputes. Consultation participants requested actions to strengthen institutional mechanisms that protect access to justice. Participants in the report called for the re-establishment of women-led dispute-resolution systems, including women-only community committees. They also requested support for affordable centers providing confidential legal, psychosocial, and protection assistance. The 2026 global theme for International Women&rsquo;s Day is &quot;Rights, Justice, Action. For all Women and Girls,&quot; according to the UN. This theme demands the dismantling of barriers to equal justice, including discriminatory laws and harmful social norms, according to the report.

Women in Afghanistan are nearly four times less likely than men to have access to formal justice mechanisms. (UNICEF/Osman Khayyam)

Afghanistan

A UN report says Afghan women face severe barriers to justice, with only 14% able to access formal mechanisms. Afghan Taliban policies, dismantled institutions, and exclusion from councils worsen protection, leaving women vulnerable to violence.

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN

ISLAMABAD: On International Women&rsquo;s Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised &ldquo;Nari Shakti&rdquo; (Women Power), and official communications emphasized &ldquo;women-led development.&rdquo; However, data from India reveals a more unequal reality. This year&#39;s theme is &ldquo;Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,&rdquo; but for millions of Indian women, these rights are not fully realized in their everyday lives.&nbsp;The latest official crime data from India shows that violence against women remains widespread. The country recorded 445,256 crimes against women in 2022, or roughly 51 cases every hour, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.&nbsp; The largest category was cruelty by husbands or relatives, underlining how gender inequality is often most visible inside the home, not just in public spaces. The story of Kajal Sharma, the 27-year-old female SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) commando, beaten to death by her husband in January, is one of the most recent unfortunate cases of this, which got highlighted at the national level. Another form of violence against women, which takes us back to the dark ages, is female infanticide. Since the BJP came to power, official statistics have either not been reported at all or have been grossly misrepresented.&nbsp; In 2015, India&#39;s Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that approximately 2,000 girls are killed every day in the country, but the National Crime Records Bureau reported only 100 deaths due to infanticide per year.&nbsp; There are reports of entire villages in India that have no women across generations. The government, however, chooses to keep mum over the matter and gaslight with slogans like &ldquo;Nari Shakti.&rdquo; The inequality also runs through the economy and politics. In 2025, the World Economic Forum said India shows especially weak performance in women&rsquo;s economic participation and political empowerment.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s own labor survey points in the same direction. The Periodic Labor Force Survey 2023-24 reported female labor-force participation at 35.6%, far below the male rate of 77.5%. Meanwhile, the World Bank&rsquo;s &quot;Women, Business and the Law 2024&quot; report gave India a score of 74.4 out of 100, with poor marks on pay and parenthood-related protections.&nbsp;So on a day of celebration and official praise, the irony is hard to miss: India speaks the language of women&rsquo;s empowerment, but the numbers still show women fighting for safety, equal opportunity, and full rights.

India

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised 'Women Power' on International Women’s Day, data on violence, low female workforce participation, weak legal protections, and persistent inequality show that millions of women in India still lack safety, equality, and full rights.

On International Women’s Day, India’s gender reality tells another story

Muhammad Ibrahim

DHAKA: On the bustling outskirts of Dhaka, where roadside dhabas (eateries) line every street, one small tea stall stands out, not just for its aroma but for the remarkable woman behind it. Samat Chamsunaha, modestly dressed and often seated with her toddler by her side, has been running her tea and paan shop for five years, serving up Tandoori Chai, Tandoori Malai Chai, Titul Chai, Matka Chai, and sweets. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Samat said, &ldquo;Our Matka Chai is the most popular. Tandoori and Masala Chai are also loved by many. We started this business in a lot of empty space, but now it has become crowded, especially on Fridays to Sundays. When there are many people, it is difficult to move around.&rdquo; In a street dominated by male vendors, Samat is the only woman running a tea stall, a rarity that has not gone unnoticed by her customers. &lsquo;We love coming here&rsquo;A group of young friends told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;We love coming here. She is quite hospitable and friendly, always smiling, and treats every visitor with great respect.&rdquo; Her warm demeanor and genuine hospitality have turned her shop into a community hub where families and youngsters gather, relax, and spend time together. &ldquo;In Ramzan, most of the shops are closed. Only two shops are open&mdash;Nanabai and Ramadukhan. During this month, it becomes even more crowded,&rdquo; she added, highlighting how her business continues to thrive even when others shutter their doors. Women&rsquo;s role in Bangladesh&rsquo;s economySamat&rsquo;s story mirrors the broader contribution of women to Bangladesh&rsquo;s economy. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, women&rsquo;s unpaid labor, including caregiving and household work, contributes an estimated $46.8 billion, roughly 14&ndash;17% of GDP if formally recognized. Women also make up 88% of total unpaid work, showing their crucial yet often invisible economic role. Moreover, female participation in the formal labor force has been steadily increasing, particularly in urban areas and entrepreneurial ventures, signaling social and economic transformation. Experts estimate that if women&rsquo;s participation in the labor market grows, Bangladesh&rsquo;s GDP could increase by up to 29%. Samat is not just serving tea; she is defying social norms and inspiring her community. Her humble stall has become a space where people feel valued and welcomed. Symbol of&nbsp;resilience By smiling through early mornings, managing a business and caring for her child, she embodies the quiet yet profound power of women&rsquo;s empowerment. As she said herself, &ldquo;This place is usually crowded, especially on Friday to Sunday. On Fridays, we see more visitors, and it boosts our sales on Saturdays. Sundays also bring in more customers, which increases sales on Sundays.&rdquo; Her words are simple, yet they reveal the resilience, dedication, and impact of women like Samat who quietly shape the economic and social landscape of Bangladesh. On this International Women&rsquo;s Day, Samat Chamsunaha is more than a tea seller; she is a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and community spirit, proving that even small ventures can inspire big change.

Bangladesh

On this International Women’s Day, Samat Chamsunaha is more than a tea seller; she is a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and community spirit, proving that even small ventures can inspire big change.

Articles tagged with "International Women's Day"

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN

On International Women’s Day, India’s gender reality tells another story

Cup of courage: Celebrating women’s resilience in Dhaka streets

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN