The UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, met with Afghan women leaders and discussed key issues affecting women and girls, the UN Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said.

“Restrictions to access to education & work were particularly stressed as Afghans struggle to cope with socio-economic hardships. Consultations to make every voice heard encouraged,” UNAMA said. 

When the Islamic Emirate swept into power, many Afghan women working in government departments become jobless. However, the Islamic Emirate said that the government's female employees who become jobless will be paid at home.

Hamia Nadari, who was working for the Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MoUDL) is jobless now and struggling with severe economic problems. 

“I became jobless and now I am at home. I am suffering from mental and economic pressure,” she said.

“We want to have a developed country and women should be included in the society because we cannot have a developed country without women,” Sheerina said. 

The associate director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, Heather Barr, called on the UN to pay attention to women’s rights in Afghanistan. 

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that it is committed to the rights of women and girls based on sharia and Islamic values.