Statement by the Afghanistan Women’s Rights Watch on the Taliban’s Ban Preventing Women from Receiving Medical Treatment Without a Male Guardian

The Afghanistan Women’s Rights Watch strongly condemns the recent decision by the Taliban authorities prohibiting women from receiving medical treatment without the presence of a male guardian (mahram). This decision is a clear violation of women’s fundamental rights to health, dignity, and freedom of choice — rights that are protected under international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Such a restriction endangers the lives of thousands of Afghan women and places additional strain on the already fragile healthcare system. In many parts of the country, women have no male relatives available to accompany them to medical facilities, making this rule effectively a denial of healthcare. This decision is also inconsistent with the core principles of Islam — compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity.

The Afghanistan Women’s Rights Watch calls on the international community, the World Health Organization (WHO), and all human rights bodies to take urgent action to ensure Afghan women’s safe and unhindered access to healthcare. We urge them to apply diplomatic and humanitarian pressure on the Taliban to immediately revoke this inhumane and discriminatory order.

Afghan women deserve respect, health, and equal access to medical services — not fear, restriction, and exclusion.

Afghanistan Women’s Rights Watch
October 2025