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December 9, 2025 Human rights

Ukraine's civilian population faces near-daily attacks and deteriorating access to basic services, according to a report released today by the UN Human Rights Office. The document documents alarming trends, including rising civilian casualties, ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy system, and the systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

According to the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU), July saw the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine since April 2022. A massive drone and missile strike on November 19 killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil, marking the deadliest attack in western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began.

Residents of regions near the front lines, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, have faced a sharp deterioration in living conditions, the report states. Many hospitals and clinics have been destroyed or forced to close, leaving the population without access to basic medical care.

According to the Mission, in October and November 2025, the Russian Federation carried out eight large-scale, coordinated missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power grid. These strikes caused power outages in many regions, with power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day. In some areas, people were left without water and heat for many hours or even days.

The plight of prisoners of war

From May to August 2025, Ukraine and Russia conducted the largest prisoner of war exchanges since 2022, but the HRMMU did not record any improvement in the situation of those held in captivity.

"Of the 187 Ukrainian prisoners of war recently released by the Russian Federation, 185 reported severe beatings, torture by forced positions, electric shocks, suffocation, and dog attacks. One hundred forty-one (75 percent) reported being subjected to sexual violence. Those interviewed also described extremely harsh conditions, limited access to medical care, and violence during their capture, transfer, arrival at new facilities, and throughout their internment," said UN Mission Head Danielle Bell.

The HRMMU also interviewed 137 prisoners of war held by Ukraine, including 10 third-country nationals. More than half of them, including 37 prisoners of war captured this year, reported torture and ill-treatment during interrogation or transfer before their arrival at official internment facilities. The mission enjoyed unimpeded access to these facilities and continues to note that conditions of detention there generally comply with international standards.

The report also documented an increase in the number of extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four reports of the killing of 10 Ukrainian servicemen after their capture by Russian forces were deemed credible. Furthermore, four executions of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces were documented, and credible information was received regarding three additional incidents, which are currently being verified.

Restrictions on rights and freedoms

The mission reports that violations of international law continue in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. The report describes increasing restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion, and access to independent information. Civilians faced increasing pressure to accept Russian citizenship, and everyday life became virtually impossible without a Russian passport. The report describes instances of arbitrary arrests, criminal prosecution for criticism of the "special military operation," the use of coerced confessions, and the retroactive application of criminal laws.

Property rights have also been significantly damaged, the report states. Occupation authorities continued to implement legislation allowing them to seize residential properties deemed "abandoned" by Ukrainians. As of November 2025, at least 5,557 residential units in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions had been registered and transferred to municipal ownership under this scheme. Ukrainians forced to leave the occupied territories reported being unable to participate in legal proceedings to confirm their status and retain their property.

Deteriorating access to water was also reported in some areas of the occupied Donetsk region. In some settlements, water was supplied only once every few days; many complained of poor quality and high prices in stores.

The report highlights the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian organizations to support civilians affected by the fighting, including large-scale evacuations, the opening of transit centers, and the provision of medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance – despite extremely difficult and increasingly dangerous conditions.

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December 9, 2025 International law

The world is facing an alarming decline in respect for international law: armed conflicts are increasingly targeting civilians, and the risk of mass atrocities is rapidly growing. This was stated by the new UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chalok Beyani, in her first interview since her appointment in August of this year.

Beyani recalled that his post was created by the UN Security Council following the tragedies in Rwanda and Srebrenica. Today, he said, parallels with the current crises are evident in many regions of the world. "We are witnessing massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, and a blatant disregard for humanitarian law. The risk of atrocities is extremely high," he noted.

The advisor paid special attention to Sudan, where the conflict in Darfur has been raging for decades. "Essentially, nothing has changed. The collapse of the civilian government has only exacerbated the crisis," he said, recalling that back in the 1990s, the situation in the region was the focus of a UN commission investigation.

The role of international law

The Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Protection of Civilians serves as an "early warning system" within the UN. It informs the Secretary-General, the Security Council, and other bodies when a risk of mass crimes is detected. In its work, the Office relies on Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948It monitors developments in armed conflicts on ethnic or religious grounds, the spread of hate speech, and the erosion of the rule of law.

"Our task is not to study genocide, but to prevent it," Beyani emphasized, adding that the final decisions in each case are made by international courts.

© UNICEF/M. Jamal

Displaced persons camp in Sudan.

Judicial precedents and liability

The advisor noted the importance of effective justice systems for protecting vulnerable groups. Beyani cited the 2012 conviction of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga by the International Criminal Court for using child soldiers. This conviction, he said, prompted other warlords to publicly renounce such practices.

Beyani also mentioned the International Court of Justice's provisional measures in the case of South Africa v. Israel, concerning the possible application of the Genocide Convention in Gaza, as well as the upcoming hearing of the Gambia v. Myanmar case. "Prevention also includes punishment," he emphasized.

New threats: disinformation and climate change

Among the current challenges, Beyani highlighted the rise of hate speech and disinformation online. His office is collaborating with tech companies, including Meta and Google, as well as religious and community leaders, to counter incitement to violence.

The advisor noted that climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly becoming catalysts for conflict. "We see tensions over resources, from the Sahel to small island states threatened by flooding. Climate itself is not the cause, but it amplifies other risk factors," he explained.

Indigenous peoples caught up in disputes over land and natural resources are particularly vulnerable in this situation. "Their identity and way of life make them particularly vulnerable to threats," Beyani noted.

Remember and act

The adviser says his office focuses primarily on diplomacy and preventative measures. "It was created for non-public interaction, consultations with the Secretary-General and the Security Council, and official statements are made only when necessary," he said.

Beyani emphasized that preventing genocide requires not only decisive action, but also preserving the memory of the victims of past crimes.

"We must remember the UN's promise of 'never again' and the foundation upon which the Genocide Convention stands. But even this is not enough. We must strengthen our response tools, build trust, and act proactively," the adviser emphasized.

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December 9, 2025 Peace and security

2025 has become one of the deadliest years for the people of Ukraine. The number of civilian casualties from January to November of this year is 24 percent higher than the same period in 2024. Kaeko Goto, Acting Head of the Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas Division at the Department of Political Affairs, warned this during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

According to her, the Russian Federation is intensifying air attacks across Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has confirmed the deaths of 14,775 Ukrainian civilians, including 755 children. Another 39,322 people, including 2,416 children, have been injured. The actual figures are likely significantly higher, Goto noted.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure

The UN representative also stated that systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure threaten to leave millions of people without heat, water, and the ability to travel during winter weather. Furthermore, according to her statement, more than 340 educational institutions in the country have been damaged or destroyed this year.

Goto noted that local authorities in the Russian Federation also continue to report civilian casualties as a result of attacks by Ukrainian armed forces and damage to civilian infrastructure as a result of long-range strikes on military and energy facilities in the Russian Federation. However, due to lack of access and limited information, the UN is unable to verify these reports.

Goto stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international law, wherever they occur.

The situation in the Black Sea

She also noted the UN's concern over recent reports of incidents involving shipping and port infrastructure in the Black Sea. On December 5, Bulgarian authorities began evacuating the crew of an oil tanker that caught fire near the Black Sea port of Ahtopol. Two Russian tankers were reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones in Turkey's exclusive economic zone on November 29. Furthermore, on December 2, another Russian-flagged tanker was reportedly attacked by a drone off the Turkish coast. There are also reports of Russian attacks on infrastructure in the Ukrainian port of Odessa, as well as suspected Ukrainian attacks on the Azov port of Temryuk in Russia's Krasnodar region.

"While no casualties have been reported, these incidents represent another step in the current dangerous cycle of escalation," Goto said.

Escalation risks

"We continue to call on all interested parties to reduce tensions and prevent the risk of further escalation of the conflict. This certainly applies to the enormous danger that war poses to nuclear facilities," she continued.

According to the speaker, despite the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant continues to experience power outages due to ongoing attacks in the surrounding area. The IAEA also conducted a comprehensive safety assessment of the New Safe Confinement at the Chernobyl facility, which concluded that the structure has lost its essential functions.

“We remain deeply concerned about the systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation,” Goto added.

"The people of Ukraine want peace—just and lasting. Meeting these aspirations and ensuring the region's long-term stability must remain our collective priority," the UN representative emphasized. "That's why we hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, will help bring this war to a negotiated end."

Humanitarian situation

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya, speaking on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, said that rocket and drone attacks across Ukraine continue to kill and injure civilians and disrupt vital services.

She said older people, people with disabilities, and families with small children are increasingly choosing to evacuate after days without heat, clean water, or a stable power supply.

"Last week, a strike in Kherson damaged a thermal power plant serving thousands of residents. A doctor from a nearby clinic told our team, 'People can survive without electricity for a while, but not without heat. Without heat, the condition of our elderly patients deteriorates within hours,'" Msuya said.

Efforts to help Ukrainians

A spokeswoman for the UN Humanitarian Office said 44 convoys have delivered essential supplies to 50,000 civilians in hard-to-reach areas of Ukraine along the front line this year.

However, donors have provided only 65 percent of the $278 million needed to implement Winter Response PlanPublished the day before Global Humanitarian Plan highlights the scale of the need: 10.8 million Ukrainians will need assistance in 2026.

"The lack of funding is costing lives. Families are living without heat during freezing temperatures; women and girls are losing access to safe spaces; and elderly people in frontline areas are left without the means to evacuate," warned Msuya.

She called on Security Council members to use all available tools to ensure respect for humanitarian law and to provide the necessary funding to support the people of Ukraine.

The material is being updated

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December 8, 2025 Peace and security

The Ukrainian village of Ingulka, located approximately 40 kilometers north of Mykolaiv, has a population of approximately 2,000. There is only one school, which is also attended by children from neighboring villages. Recently, two of its basements were converted into safe and comfortable shelters where children can attend in-person classes.

The renovation was carried out with the support of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Denmark.

Today, Ukrainian children can only attend in-person classes in schools with certified shelters. When an air raid alarm sounds, teachers take their children underground, sometimes for hours. If there is no shelter or it is in poor condition, learning is only possible online.

© UNOPS/O. Marchuk

"Schools were built with basement shelters before, back in Soviet times. Then they gradually fell into disrepair," explains Vadim Kobylinsky, director of the Ingul Lyceum.

Following renovations carried out by UNOPS, the lyceum now has two equipped shelters with a total capacity of 250 people – enough for all 239 students who come here from Ingulka and neighboring villages.

"Our children have already returned to class. The teachers are delighted. Now, when another air raid alarm sounds, the students simply go underground and continue their lessons without interruption – in a cozy, comfortable, well-lit, and warm room," says Kobylinsky.

"We support our students and want them to develop in various fields. We have a folk ensemble that has won numerous competitions. We have a professional football coach working with the team. The children have many opportunities beyond their studies," he adds.

© UNOPS

UNOPS engineer Grigory Komisarov, who was responsible for the shelter repairs, says he was pleased to create a safer environment for the schoolchildren.

"The Ukrainian education system has suffered greatly since the invasion, as attending classes has become much more difficult. This has forced many families to make the difficult decision to leave and start a new life elsewhere. By creating such shelters, we are helping future generations remain and grow in Ukraine," he noted.

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December 8, 2025 UN

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the Israeli authorities' unauthorized entry into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) compound in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, on Monday.

According to the UN chief, the United Nations premises are "inviolable and immune from any interference." António Guterres recalled that the International Court of Justice recently confirmed that any administrative, judicial, or legislative action against UN property and assets is prohibited. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Details of the incident

UNRWA Director Philippe Lazzarini reported that Israeli police, along with municipal officials, forcibly entered the compound. Motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts were driven into the compound, communications were cut off, and furniture, computer equipment, and other property were confiscated. Furthermore, the UN flag was removed and replaced with an Israeli one.

UN response

António Guterres called on Israel to "immediately take all necessary steps to restore and ensure the integrity of UNRWA premises" and to refrain from any further actions against the agency, in accordance with its obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

Philippe Lazzarini called the incident "a flagrant disregard for Israel's obligations as a UN member state" and warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for the work of the Organization worldwide.

UNRWA provides health, education, and other services to approximately six million Palestine refugees in five regions of the Middle East, including the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The agency's facilities have been repeatedly attacked since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Lazzarini, the East Jerusalem complex has been empty since the beginning of the year after the Israeli parliament passed legislation targeting UNRWA.

International legal status

Lazzarini emphasized that “regardless of any internal measures taken, the complex retains its status as a UN facility, inviolable and immune from any interference.”

Israel is a party to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which protects the Organization's premises and property from any form of seizure or prosecution. The International Court of Justice also affirmed Israel's obligation to cooperate with UNRWA and other UN agencies.

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December 8, 2025 International law

The International Court of Justice has ruled Russia's counterclaim in the case concerning allegations of genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) admissible. It will be included in the proceedings. The Court also set deadlines for further submissions: Ukraine must submit its response by December 7, 2026, and Russia must submit its counterargument by December 7, 2027.

On February 26, 2022 – shortly after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion – Ukraine filed an application with the Court instituting proceedings against Russia regarding “a dispute… concerning the interpretation, application and implementation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide".

According to press release International Court of Justice, Ukraine claims that "the Russian Federation falsely claimed to have committed acts of genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine and, on that basis, recognized the so-called 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic', and then declared and carried out a 'special military operation' against Ukraine."

Ukraine "categorically denies" committing such acts of genocide and says it filed the application "to establish that Russia has no legal basis to take action in and against Ukraine to prevent and punish the alleged genocide."

In March 2022, the Court issued a decision on provisional measures related to Ukraine's claim and ordered Russia to immediately suspend military actions in that country.

In February 2024, the Court ruled on the preliminary objections raised by Russia in October 2022: the Court has jurisdiction to entertain Ukraine's claim that it has found no credible evidence that "Ukraine is responsible for committing genocide."

Russia submitted counterclaims to the Court on November 18, 2024. Ukraine challenged their admissibility, but the objections were dismissed. "The Court concluded that it has jurisdiction to entertain the Russian Federation's counterclaims pursuant to Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," the Court stated in a press release dated December 8, 2025.

The Court, located in The Hague, was established in 1945 to resolve disputes between states. It also issues advisory opinions on legal matters referred to it by other authorized UN organs.

The International Court of Justice is one of the six fundamental organs of the UN, along with the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, and the Secretariat. Unlike, for example, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the International Court is not a supreme court to which national courts may appeal: it is authorized to hear a dispute only at the request of one or more states.

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December 8, 2025 Peace and security

Senior UN officials have condemned the killing of dozens of children in drone strikes in Sudan's South Kordofan state, as well as attacks on rescue workers trying to help the wounded.

In a statement released by the UN Secretary-General's spokesman, António Guterres said he was shocked by the news that several drone strikes on December 4 hit a kindergarten and a hospital in the town of Kalogi where victims were being treated.

The head of the UN World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in turn, reported that the rural hospital was attacked at least three times, resulting in the deaths of 114 people, including 63 children.

Call for blood donors

The survivors of the drone attack urgently need blood transfusions and other medical assistance, the head of the WHO said in a statement published online.

"It is alarming that paramedics and rescue workers were attacked while trying to transport the injured from the kindergarten to the hospital," he added.

That same day, a humanitarian convoy was attacked in North Kordofan state. The vehicles were transporting vital supplies to North Darfur. The driver of a UN World Food Programme truck was seriously injured in the attack.

"The Secretary-General condemns the attack on humanitarian workers at a time of greatest need," the statement said.

A disaster for millions

Humanitarian organizations warn that the situation across Sudan remains catastrophic for millions of people caught in the middle of fierce fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces. Humanitarian conditions are becoming increasingly dire as vital supplies of water, food, and other essentials are depleted. Famine has already been reported in the capital of South Kordofan, Kadugli.

“The horrific human rights violations and abuses documented in El Fasher in recent months, as well as reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law, must not be repeated in the Kordofan region,” the UN Secretary-General’s spokesman stressed.

Amid reports of ongoing foreign interference in the conflict in Sudan, the Secretary-General called on all States with influence over the warring parties to use their leverage to achieve an immediate end to the fighting and halt the flow of weapons.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and resume negotiations to achieve a lasting truce and a comprehensive, inclusive political process," the statement said. "The United Nations stands ready to support tangible steps to end the fighting in Sudan and chart a path to lasting peace."

Appeal of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he fears a "new wave of atrocities" in Sudan. Since late October, he noted, hundreds of civilians have been killed, tens of thousands have fled airstrikes, shelling, and extrajudicial executions, amid mass displacement – more than 45,000 people have fled violence-torn areas.

"Safe passage for those fleeing the horrors of hunger, death and destruction is vital," the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

Calling for "urgent diplomatic action," World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau stressed that greater attention was needed to preventing further atrocities and helping to end hunger.

Currently, over 30 million people in Sudan require humanitarian assistance. Since fighting broke out between rival armed groups in April 2023, over nine million Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes.

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December 8, 2025 Humanitarian aid

To support 135 million people in 50 countries next year, humanitarian organizations will need $33 billion. The UN and its partners have launched a priority appeal for $23 billion to provide emergency assistance to 87 million people affected by wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics, and famine.

The funds form part of the Global Humanitarian Plan 2026, released on Monday.

"This appeal sets out where our collective energy should be focused first," said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, presenting the document.

Millions of people need support

The updated plan comes amid dramatic cuts to humanitarian programs this year and a record number ofdeadly attacks on humanitarian workers.

The document includes detailed plans for 29 crisis zones. The largest of these concerns the occupied Palestinian territory, where $4.1 billion is needed to help three million people.

Sudan needs $2.9 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 20 million people caught in the middle of the world's largest displacement crisis. An additional $2 billion is needed to support the seven million Sudanese who have fled the country.

The largest regional request concerns the situation around Syria – $2.8 billion to help 8.6 million people.

To help 4.1 million people in Ukraine in 2026, humanitarian agencies are requesting $2.3 billion.

Consequences of funding cuts

Tom Fletcher recalled that only $12 billion was allocated for the 2025 humanitarian plan—the lowest figure in a decade. As a result, 25 million fewer people received aid than the previous year.

The consequences were tangible: people did not have enough food, health systems could not cope with the load, “and full-scale famine"hit a number of areas in Sudan and Gaza," Fletcher said.

"Programs to protect women and girls have been cut, hundreds of humanitarian organizations have closed. And more than 380 humanitarian workers have been killed – a record number," the UN deputy chief added.

Humanitarian workers are under constant threat

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator also stressed that humanitarian workers are currently working “at the limit of their capabilities, chronic underfunding and under constant attack." According to him, only 20 percent of requests from the humanitarian community receive funding.

"We're sending ambulances to the fire on your behalf," Fletcher said. "But now we're being asked to put out the fire as well. And there's not enough water in the tank. And they're shooting at us."

Appeal to Member States

Over the next 87 days, humanitarian organizations will seek support from UN member states – “one day for every million lives we strive to save,” explained the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

He also stressed the need to strengthen the protection of humanitarian workers – “not just by voicing concerns, but by holding accountable those who kill us – and who arm those who kill us.”

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December 7, 2025 Human rights

On the first anniversary of the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for tribute to the "resilience and courage of the Syrian people, who, despite untold sacrifices, never gave up hope."

He said the past year has shown that "meaningful change is possible when Syrians are empowered and supported to lead the transition themselves."

The Path to Restoration and Reconciliation

Guterres stressed that the country faces a challenge that goes far beyond political transition.

"This is a chance to rebuild shattered communities and heal deep divisions. It is an opportunity to build a state where every Syrian—regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or political affiliation—can live in security, equality, and dignity," he noted.

Since December of last year, the UN has been working with the Syrian authorities and civil society to stabilize the situation on the ground and lay the foundations for inclusive governance. Particular attention has been paid to restoring vital public services, expanding humanitarian access, and facilitating the voluntary and safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than one million refugees have returned home since December 2024, and nearly two million internally displaced persons have been able to settle in their home communities.

The first steps of transitional justice

Transitional justice mechanisms have also begun to take shape in the country. Syrian women are playing an increasingly prominent role in the creation of these new institutions, striving to achieve equal participation in socio-political processes.

Despite ongoing challenges, the past year has seen progress in strengthening local government and expanding the capacity of civil society.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria welcomed the start of a dialogue on human rights issues. The Commission commended the establishment of national bodies for transitional justice and missing persons, but cautioned that progress is fragile amid ongoing instability and sporadic violence in several areas.

Human rights activists also recalled that the questions of thousands of families whose loved ones have disappeared remain unanswered, and stressed that ending cycles of retribution is a prerequisite for sustainable peace.

Call for international support

The Secretary-General said the continued success of the transition period depended on international solidarity.

He called on the international community to "strongly support the Syrian-led transition," noting the need for sustainable funding for humanitarian programs, removing barriers to recovery, and stimulating economic development.

In closing, Guterres said: “On this anniversary, we are united in our goal to lay the foundations for peace and prosperity and reaffirm our commitment to a free, sovereign, united and inclusive Syria.”

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December 8, 2025 Women

How can you continue working, let alone running your own business, when obstacles await you at every turn? This is the question many women in Afghanistan are asking themselves today. The de facto authorities have imposed numerous restrictions on education and employment. Small businesses remain virtually the only outlet for women who want to be independent. But even here, they face barriers.

"Women don't want to just sit at home. They want to get out and learn something," says Parveen Zafar, owner of a tailor shop in Mazar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan.

Women are officially banned from working in government agencies, NGOs, and the UN. Many are forced to work from home.

Small business is the only option

Small businesses, especially in sectors traditionally considered female-dominated—textile and food production, carpet weaving—are the main outlet for Afghan women seeking financial independence. De facto, authorities and society consider such activities acceptable.

"The only channel Afghan women have is small business," says Parvin.

UNDP-Afghanistan

Parveen Zafar at her studio in Mazar-i-Sharif. The business employs 16 women.

“Historically, they have been engaged in these types of activities, and society does not question such traditional enterprises,” explains Wahib Al-Eryani, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) regional office in Mazar-i-Sharif.

UNDP is actively supporting Afghan women entrepreneurs: over 89,000 companies have received support, 91 percent of which are headed by women. These efforts have created over 439,000 jobs.

"People will laugh at us"

Although society generally does not condemn women who engage in traditional activities, female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan often face misunderstanding.

Shaista Hakimi is a mother of three and the owner of a restaurant for women in Mazar-i-Sharif. She lost her husband two years ago, and now her father-in-law is demanding that she leave their home, fearing social disapproval.

"He says people will laugh at us because his daughter-in-law works," Shaista explains.

Support from UNDP

Having received a soft loan from UNDP, Shaista was able to keep her restaurant going despite all the difficulties and now hopes for further support.

She applied for a matching grant program, which provides resources in exchange for businesses' own contributions, such as job creation. Her restaurant employs 18 women.

“I could rent another place or building to live and work in,” Shaista says.

UNDP-Afghanistan

Shaista Hakimi in her restaurant.

Parveen Zafar also received a subsidized loan from UNDP after her previous campaign closed. Her new business employs 16 women.

"I was able to borrow money and buy equipment. Thank God, I was able to reopen my business. And now I can help other women," says Parvin.

The need to rely on male relatives

No matter how successful their businesses, Afghan female entrepreneurs are forced to rely heavily on their male relatives. Afghan government decrees require women to appear in public or travel only when accompanied by a mahram—a male guardian.

For the women working at Shaista's restaurant, this isn't a problem. They live in the same area and can walk to work on their own.

But at Parvin's enterprise the situation is completely different.

"Women aren't allowed to travel without a mahram. Especially if we want to deliver products to other provinces—we can't do that," she says.

UNDP-Afghanistan

Accessories made in the studio of Parveen Zafar.

In such situations, women turn to relatives for help.

"Sometimes, if women can't get to the market, they enlist the help of their husbands, brothers, and other relatives who can travel to crowded markets to sell their produce or negotiate deals with wholesalers," explains Al-Eryani.

"The men we're related to support us. They try to sell our products," Parvin adds.

"They are very resilient."

Limited access to markets and financial instruments is one of the main obstacles for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. According to UNDP, only 4 percent of Afghan women have access to international markets, and obtaining a loan requires multiple guarantors, which many simply do not have.

Nevertheless, women find ways to continue their work—and to help others. "They're very resilient. They find ways, they adapt," notes Al-Eryani.

Today, amid the mass return of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan, many women-owned businesses are providing jobs for the new arrivals.

"With UNDP support, they were able to employ the returnees—20, 30, 40 women per business. They did it with pride. Now they're not just recipients of aid—they're helping others," says Al-Eryani.

UNDP-Afghanistan

Wahib Al-Eryani at a woman-run soap-making business.

An uncertain future

The prospects for Afghan female entrepreneurs remain bleak. Due to the ban on education for girls beyond sixth grade, the younger generation will not gain the knowledge and skills necessary to run a business.

"We don't have the necessary financial education," Parvin explained. UNDP provides training for female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, but much more is needed to develop their potential.

"The support we receive today is insufficient," she added. Parvin emphasized that Afghan women need greater international support.

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