Sharifa’s world felt small. As a 34-year-old mother of two living in an informal settlement in Herat, western Afghanistan, she longed for something more – a place where she could connect, learn, and feel a sense of belonging. But in her community, women had few opportunities to gather.

“Families do not let their girls go to other houses for meetups, socialization, or community gatherings,” she said. “There is no public space where we can come together as women, learn new skills, and attend community sessions. We are left out.”

For Sharifa and many other women in Afghanistan, these restrictions were nothing new, but they have significantly tightened since the Taliban took control in 2021. The space for women in public life was shrinking, leaving them increasingly isolated. Without a safe place to meet, share ideas, or access learning opportunities, it felt as if their world was closing in.

The reality of informal settlements

Sharifa faced more than isolation. The informal settlement she called home, like many others in Afghanistan, lacked basic services, infrastructure, and security. Without formal Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) documentation, many families were at constant risk of eviction, but also feared to spend their limited savings in the improvements of their homes. Since 2021, thousands had already been forced from their homes.

For women, these challenges are even more pronounced today then before 2021. The lack of many human rights, but also safe public spaces, inadequate street lighting, and limited sanitation facilities heightens their vulnerability to gender-based violence. Simply stepping outside after dark is a risk.

A space of their own

When women in Herat’s Karte Maiwand community voiced their frustration and fears, as well their lack of access to safe public spaces, UN-Habitat, with support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), took action. HLP documentation for the community was secured, providing families such as Sharifa’s the stability they needed.

Women gathered in the social center to discuss their challenges and attend awareness session, Herat Afghanistan © UN-Habitat Afghanistan

In Herat, and building upon discussions with community elders and women, UN-Habitat also built a social centre – a place where women could meet freely, learn new skills, and participate in community discussions.

For Sharifa, the new social centre opened doors that had long been closed. “With this new social centre, we women can finally take part in social decisions. We are no longer left out, and we now have a space where our voices matter,” she said. She began attending classes, gaining practical skills in sewing and literacy. More than that, she found a community. “Seeing other women learn and share ideas inspires me,” she said. “Every time I come here, I feel accepted. This is a place where I can visit freely, without fear or opposition from my family.”

A step toward inclusion

While currently females are not allowed to enter public parks, similar initiatives were rolled out in Kabul, where gender-safe spaces and improved street lighting now make neighbourhoods safer for women and girls.

“These interventions illustrate that even in the face of adversity, progress is possible when women and girls are included in discussions and help to shape our programming,” said Stephanie Loose, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Afghanistan. “We have seen gender-based violence reduced in those neighbourhoods. Those public spaces we created are more than just infrastructure – they are a lifeline for Afghan women.”