The Efforts of Women Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan to Empower and Achieve Independence for Women Amidst Taliban Restrictions

According to the report, with the Taliban's intensified restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, including their exclusion from public spaces and prohibitions on attending schools and universities, several women entrepreneurs have turned to establishing private businesses.

The report states that over the past three years, particularly in western Afghanistan and Herat, at least 800 business licenses have been issued to women who have started small enterprises.

Arab News also notes that these businesses, managed by women, operate in areas such as clothing, carpet weaving, painting, food production, and processing and packaging.

The report adds: "Given that women are only allowed to work as long as they work for women and among women, overcoming these restrictions is not easy. This situation has been complicated by the existing sanctions and Afghanistan's fragile economy." Legal and financial challenges are cited as two major issues facing women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan.

According to female entrepreneurs, Arab News states that providing job opportunities for other women means fulfilling social responsibility and realizing the latent energy within the community by other Afghan women.

Furthermore, the report mentions that the establishment of small businesses by women in Afghanistan helps reduce gender inequality, increase social participation, and strengthen family foundations.

This comes at a time when the employment rate across the country has significantly decreased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. This situation is exacerbated by the ongoing restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women's participation in public sectors, secondary and higher education, and their movement.

Despite the imposed restrictions in Afghanistan, women are striving to support other women, girls, and their families by starting private businesses.