The Right of Afghan women throughout history.

Women’s rights in Afghanistan have always been a matter of fierce struggle over regimes and generations. Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, however, the oppression that Afghan women and girls are experiencing is unmatched in terms of scale and generational impact. Yet, there have been periods in Afghan history when women enjoyed greater rights than many women worldwide. In 1919, Afghan women gained the right to vote, a year before women in the United States and more than 50 years before women in Switzerland. And starting in the 1950s, they were allowed to attend university and join the workforce.

UN Photo dove into its archives to unearth a history of women’s rights.