Plight of Afghan women and girls must not fall off agenda – Helen McEntee

Foreign affairs minister said more than 2.6m girls have been denied access to secondary school since the Taliban took control in 2021

A family fleeing the Taliban in 2021 arriving at Melsbroek military air base in Belgium. Women and girls left behind in Afghanistan have been excluded from 'public life, employment, education, and access to justice'. Picture: Johanna Geron/Reuters

Sun, 20 Sep, 2026 - 17:31

Tadgh McNally

International leaders cannot allow the “dire” humanitarian situation in Afghanistan to fall off the agenda, the foreign affairs minister has said.

Helen McEntee said more than 2.6m girls have been denied access to secondary level education since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021.

She made the comments as she prepared to host a high-level event on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, as part of UN High Level week in New York.

The event will feature contributions from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk and the Malala Fund, as well as Afghan women leaders like Metra Mehran.

Ahead of the event, Ms McEntee said five years after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, a severe humanitarian crisis is in place.

“Women and girls in particular are facing unprecedented restrictions on their rights and freedoms,” Ms McEntee said.

“More than 2.6 million girls have been denied access to secondary education since 2021, and a wide range of measures have excluded women and girls from public life, employment, education, and access to justice.

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“The international community cannot allow the dire situation in Afghanistan to slip down the agenda.

“We must continue to engage in a principled manner that supports the Afghan people, upholds human rights and ensures that the voices of Afghan women remain at the centre of international efforts.”

Discussions at the event are set to focus on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as well as the erosion of rights of women and girls.

“Today’s discussion provides an important opportunity to strengthen solidarity with the Afghan people and advance accountability for violations of international law and human rights.

“Ireland has consistently advocated for the protection of human rights in Afghanistan and for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in all aspects of society.

Afghan Taliban fighters on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan. Picture: Wahidullah Kakar/AP

“Through this event, we are bringing together international partners and Afghan voices to discuss practical ways to advance and support the rights, dignity and freedom of the Afghan people.”

Since 2020, Ireland has provided over €20m worth of humanitarian funding to agencies in Afghanistan, with €3m being provided to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund so far in 2026.

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Ireland’s response has also seen over 700 Afghan refugees welcomed to Ireland since the Taliban took control in 2021.

The event is taking place as part of Ireland’s programme for UN High Level week in New York, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin also due to travel to the US for engagements.