Harriet Harman, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Women and Girls, has said that Afghan women have not surrendered despite the Taliban’s repression and restrictions, and that the UK remains firmly committed to defending their rights.

UN Women has warned in a new report that women and girls around the world are facing the highest levels of violence and deprivation seen in decades.

It was a rainy day, and Raihan, while gazing out the window at the birds perched on the tree, was thinking about her dreams and wishes. She had no idea whether she would ever achieve them or not.

In the silent streets of Kabul, where women’s performances once echoed before the camera, a heavy silence now fills the air. Afghan women actresses, who had managed to enter the world of art despite years of social and cultural pressure, have once again been pushed to the margins. Through their anti-women restrictions, the Taliban appear to have turned time backwards.