Afghan Witness

Collecting, preserving and verifying information on human rights and security. Promoting information integrity. Protecting online participation through digital resilience.

Highlights

Violence Minority Rights Gender-Based Violence LGBTQ+ Women's rights Taliban

May 2

The impact of the Taliban’s Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice

Known as the PVPV Law - the Taliban's sweeping piece of legislation reinforced existing restrictions on human rights and has introduced new ones that could affect virtually all aspects of Afghans’ lives.

Women in Activism, Media, and Politics Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Policies and Restrictions Social Media Women's rights Online harassment Repression Taliban Harassment

Mar 7

Finding Alternatives: Entrepreneurship and resilience by Afghan women online

As the Taliban continue to erode women's rights, many Afghan women have turned to Instagram as a lifeline for community, self-expression and business - while navigating increasing restrictions and abuse.

Terrorism Pakistan Violence Taliban ISKP

Mar 14

Senior pro-Taliban cleric assassinated in Pakistan

ISKP suspected to be behind killing of Jamia Haqqania’s head, Hamid-ul-Haq.

Human Rights Taliban

Mar 14

Taliban withdraw from the ICC’s Rome Statute

Analysts say the ICC still holds jurisdiction over past crimes.

Information environment Shia Taliban

Mar 14

Taliban-backed Shia conference draws thousands in Kabul

Policies and Restrictions Women's rights Taliban

Mar 14

Taliban allegedly raid underground beauty parlours

Women in Activism, Media, and Politics Gender-Based Violence

Mar 7

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

Taliban

Feb 25

US aid freeze leaves Afghan economy and aid sector in crisis

Latest Articles

See all Articles

Women in Activism, Media, and Politics Gender-Based Violence

Mar 7

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

Journalists face immense challenges reporting on women’s rights inside Afghanistan. But newsrooms and researchers are leveraging open source techniques to investigate topics such as gender-based violence – shining a light on a range of underreported issues.

Taliban

Nov 18

Documenting demolitions: the Taliban’s land clearance campaign and its impact on marginalised communities

Since assuming power in August 2021, the Taliban have initiated a number of infrastructure projects in Kabul. But forced evictions and demolitions have seen ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities bear the brunt.

Policies and Restrictions Women in Activism, Media, and Politics

Sep 12

The power of non-violent resistance

How women of Afghanistan fight the Taliban today

Sep 2

Afghanistan’s shrinking information environment

What is the information environment, and what challenges face Afghanistan’s own information space? How can we strengthen it?

The Afghan Witness Map

Verified information is stored in a database and represented on the Afghan Witness Map with one simple goal: to provide the world with timely and reliable information concerning ongoing events in Afghanistan.

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How to Use Our Map

The interactive Afghan Witness Map is a powerful tool for visualizing verified human rights abuses and security threats across Afghanistan.

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In the Press

In Afghanistan, Women Haven’t Given Up - Despite jail, torture, and death threats, activists are resisting the Taliban in the country and abroad

The Walrus, 10 December 2024

‘My whole body was praying for my death’: LGBTQ Afghans say they face abuse in detention as Taliban crackdown intensifies

CNN, 19 November 2024

Revealed: the truth behind the Taliban’s brutal Kabul ‘regeneration’ programme

The Guardian, 18 November 2024

Hundreds of cases of femicide recorded in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover are ‘tip of the iceberg’

The Guardian, 15 August 2024

How the Taliban took over Afghanistan's mines

Financial Times, 26 June 2024

How the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s mines

The Financial Times, 26 June 2024

I went to secret schools during the first Taliban rule - how many more years will Afghan girls lose?

Euronews, 12 April 2024

Public executions and torture: ‘The Taliban have reverted to their true nature’

France 24 The Observers, 4 April 2024

Taliban carry out hundreds of floggings as grip tightens on Afghanistan

Financial Times, 30 November 2023

Online abuse of politically active Afghan women tripled after Taliban takeover, rights group reports

Associated Press, 20 November 2023

Women beheaded and bodies dumped in rivers under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, report says

Independent, 15 August 2023

No one feels safe': The Taliban promised to provide security to Afghans. New data shows threat from ISIS is growing

CNN, 19 May 2023

We aim to strengthen the information landscape and provide a reliable source of information for international organisations, policymakers and the media, and to raise awareness of the reality of everyday life for Afghans living in the country.

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Highlights

The impact of the Taliban’s Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice

Finding Alternatives: Entrepreneurship and resilience by Afghan women online

Senior pro-Taliban cleric assassinated in Pakistan

Taliban withdraw from the ICC’s Rome Statute

Taliban-backed Shia conference draws thousands in Kabul

Taliban allegedly raid underground beauty parlours

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

US aid freeze leaves Afghan economy and aid sector in crisis

Latest Articles

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

Documenting demolitions: the Taliban’s land clearance campaign and its impact on marginalised communities

The power of non-violent resistance

Afghanistan’s shrinking information environment

The Afghan Witness Map

View the Map

How to Use Our Map

In the Press

In Afghanistan, Women Haven’t Given Up - Despite jail, torture, and death threats, activists are resisting the Taliban in the country and abroad

‘My whole body was praying for my death’: LGBTQ Afghans say they face abuse in detention as Taliban crackdown intensifies

Revealed: the truth behind the Taliban’s brutal Kabul ‘regeneration’ programme

Hundreds of cases of femicide recorded in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover are ‘tip of the iceberg’

How the Taliban took over Afghanistan's mines

How the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s mines

I went to secret schools during the first Taliban rule - how many more years will Afghan girls lose?

Public executions and torture: ‘The Taliban have reverted to their true nature’

Taliban carry out hundreds of floggings as grip tightens on Afghanistan

Online abuse of politically active Afghan women tripled after Taliban takeover, rights group reports

Women beheaded and bodies dumped in rivers under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, report says

No one feels safe': The Taliban promised to provide security to Afghans. New data shows threat from ISIS is growing

We aim to strengthen the information landscape and provide a reliable source of information for international organisations, policymakers and the media, and to raise awareness of the reality of everyday life for Afghans living in the country.

Join our mailing list

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