Afghanistan
On March 17, 2025, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until March 2026. The resolution emphasized that peace and prosperity in Afghanistan are unattainable unless the Taliban reverse their stringent restrictions on women and girls. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have barred women from working, receiving education beyond the sixth grade, appearing in public spaces unveiled, or speaking publicly, actions which have prevented international recognition of their government.
The U.N. and Islamic scholars have condemned these policies, asserting they contradict Islamic principles. U.N. envoy Roza Otunbayeva highlighted the public's growing resentment and the country’s deepening isolation. Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with over half the population—about 23 million people—in need of aid. Funding shortages have led to closures of over 200 health facilities affecting 1.8 million people. The resolution also condemned terrorism in Afghanistan, called for stepped-up counterterrorism efforts, and noted rising tensions with Pakistan over Taliban-linked attacks.
