United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan
UNITED NATIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR AFGHANISTAN
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sexual and gender minorities; human rights defenders; people who use drugs; and people living with
and affected by HIV.
2.3
Marginalization and Exclusion
The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs have underpinned the principle of leaving no one behind, without
which the Goals cannot be truly attained. Those at risk of being left behind in Afghanistan face multiple
forms of exclusion, deprivation, disadvantage, and discrimination arising from circumstances or
characteristics usually beyond their control. These vulnerabilities and characteristics are also often
intersectional, overlapping, and evolving, and they usually apply to multiple groups or individuals
simultaneously.
As previously highlighted, no other demographic group has been more impacted since August 2021
than women and girls. Most of their hard-won rights have been curtailed or eliminated, affecting
every aspect of their lives. Repressive decrees limit their movement, dictate their appearance, restrict
access to economic opportunities and services, and severely stifle their participation in civic space and
social and political life. 10
Youth, especially young women, face challenges related to their health, education, employment, and
gender equality and equity. High rates of early marriage and pregnancy increase the risk of maternal
mortality, illness, and disability. Constraints on access to education restrict already limited economic
opportunities, while youth are also largely excluded from decision-making processes. Over 15 million
children in Afghanistan are expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023.11 Violence,
abuse (including sexual), neglect, and exploitation remain serious concerns. 12 Children continue to be
killed and maimed due to conflict and explosive remnants of war. 13 Most experience violent discipline,
including psychological violence.14
Approximately 3.4 million people in Afghanistan remain internally displaced due to conflict, of whom
58 per cent are children. 15 Afghanistan also hosts 52,000 refugees, most without access to services
and employment, while large numbers of undocumented Afghan migrants continue to be forcibly
returned to Afghanistan.
Ethnic and religious minorities suffer from repressive policies, persecution, conflict, and intolerance,
and their members have been arbitrarily arrested, tortured, summarily executed, evicted, and forced
to flee the country. Sexual and gender minorities face grave threats to their safety and lives. The Kuchi
population have seen their traditional nomadic pastoralist existence erode, leaving few who still
follow their customary livelihood with limited access to education, health, clean water, and alternative
10 UN Women (2021). Gender Alert 1: Women rights in Afghanistan: Where are we now?
11 OCHA (2022). Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023.
12 UN Security Council (2019). Report of the Secretary General to the United Nations Security Council, Children and Armed Conflict in
Afghanistan.
13 Information from the Country Task Force of Monitoring and Reporting of Grave Violations against Children (CTFMRM).
14 Central Statistics Organization and UNICEF (2013). Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010-2011.
15 UNHCR (2022). External Update: Afghanistan Situation #21.View entire presentation