UN: Afghan Women and Girls Deported from Iran and Pakistan Face Risk of Forced Marriage
In a recent report, the United Nations stated that since September 2023, more than 2.43 million Afghan refugees have been forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan, half of whom are women and girls.
The report highlights that Afghan women and girls returning from Iran and Pakistan face heightened risks of gender-based violence, forced and underage marriages, human trafficking, lack of shelter, and serious sexual exploitation.
The report also expresses concern over the rapid pace of refugee returns to Afghanistan. It notes that women traveling without a male guardian face numerous challenges, including abuse and harassment at border crossings and threats of violence.
Meanwhile, many women and girls recently returned from Iran and Pakistan express deep anxiety, saying their hopes have been shattered and their lives are being played with. According to them, returning to Afghanistan has deprived them of education and employment opportunities, casting a dark shadow over their future and leaving them in fear, depression, and severe isolation.
These women and girls emphasize that they no longer have any hope, and their fate is now entirely in the hands of male family members. Some girls report being forced into marriage by their families.
This comes as, on June 30, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that over 256,000 Afghan refugees were returned from Iran to Afghanistan in the month of June alone. IOM also stated that a lack of funding has significantly affected their ability, and that of their partners, to deliver assistance to those in need.
