Afghanistan is a country with a long history of conflict and political instability. It consists of 34 provinces, which are divided into districts, and has great cultural and ethnic diversity.

Since the withdrawal of international troops in 2021, Afghanistan has been under the control of the Taliban, who have formed a government. They are shaping society and political structures according to their own ideas. Public freedoms such as press work and assembly have been severely restricted since then.

Women and girls are particularly affected: they are currently denied access to education and many job opportunities. Their participation in public life is also restricted in many areas.

The situation of the civilian population in Afghanistan is persistently problematic. Many people flee war, violence and a lack of prospects. The result is an exodus of skilled workers and academics who could have made a major contribution to the social and infrastructural development of the country. Large parts of the country are chronically underserved in terms of medical care, and rural regions in particular lack doctors, midwives and health facilities. The long journeys to the few hospitals are not only dangerous for the rural population, but also expensive and hardly manageable for seriously ill or heavily pregnant women.

Women are particularly hard hit by this situation: they are not allowed to be treated by male doctors, and at the same time, the existing ban on training and studying prevents them from entering the medical profession. This not only exacerbates the acute shortage of care, but also creates a long-term shortage of female professionals. In addition, women are only allowed to visit health facilities if accompanied by a male relative – an organisational and financial hurdle that further restricts access to medical care.