As the Taliban mark five years since their takeover, the situation for Afghan women and girls has deteriorated significantly. A staggering 2.4 million girls remain barred from attending school, and half of Afghan women rarely leave their homes due to deepening restrictions. The United Nations and UNESCO have condemned the normalization of gender apartheid, highlighting the urgent need to restore educational rights. Reports detail the heartbreaking impact on families and the ongoing struggle of women to reclaim their freedoms in an increasingly oppressive environment.