“World Bank” report highlights Taliban’s impact on “Afghanistan’s welfare.”

The “World Bank’s” recent report, “Women, Business and the Law 2023,” states that the Taliban’s takeover and subsequent regime change in Afghanistan in August 2021 have had significant negative consequences for both the economy and the well-being of the Afghan people. According to TOLOnews, “Afghanistan was among the 11 economies with the lowest rankings in terms of women’s rights, business opportunities, and legal protections, as assessed by the World Bank.”

The report highlights that violent conflicts and the prevalence of institutional and social fragility have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of institutions and policies, particularly the ability of governments to implement necessary reforms. Among the 27 low-income economies examined, 11 of them, including Eritrea, Afghanistan, Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Mali, Niger, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Republic of Yemen, have low women’s, business, and law scores and are affected by conflict and fragility.

The study reveals that the “Taliban administration” in Afghanistan imposed restrictive decrees and directives that severely limited women’s freedom of movement and employment opportunities. However, it should be noted that the assessment of the gender gap is based solely on observable written evidence due to the uncertainty surrounding the applicable legal framework in Afghanistan. Unwritten rules are not considered under the “Women,” “Business,” and the “Law methodology.”

According to reports from TOLOnews, Afghan women business owners emphasize the critical role women play in the country’s economy and business environment. However, the Taliban’s draconian restrictions have severely curtailed women’s rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement. They have disregarded international calls for women and girls to have access to education and employment and have warned other nations against interfering in “Afghanistan’s domestic affairs.”

Under Taliban rule, girls have been barred from attending secondary school, women’s freedom of movement has been restricted, women have been excluded from various sectors of the workforce, and they have been banned from using gyms, parks, and public bathhouses. These measures further exacerbate the challenges faced by “Afghan women” in their pursuit of equal rights and opportunities.