Afghan students and activists condemn halt to medical courses amid warnings of women dying from lack of healthcare

Summary

The Taliban have banned Afghan women from training as nurses and midwives, sparking condemnation from human rights groups and international agencies.

Critics, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, warn the ban will devastate women’s healthcare in Afghanistan, where cultural norms already prohibit women from being treated by male doctors.

With maternal mortality rates among the highest globally and a shortage of 18,000 midwives, the ban risks worsening healthcare access for women, potentially leading to preventable deaths.

Afghan women have protested, calling the move a violation of their rights.