By Olivia Le PoidevinGENEVA, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month as Taliban-imposed restrictions curtail their freedom of movement and ‌participation in public life, according to data released by U.N. Women on Wednesday. The Taliban have barred an estimated 2.4 million Afghan girls from secondary education since they regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said on Tuesday. U.N. Women said ​the ​Taliban authorities have issued more than 100 decrees targeting ​women and girls since taking power, institutionalising discrimination ‌and deepening what it described as the world's most severe women's rights crisis. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe Taliban argue they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture. The restrictions have also fuelled a worsening mental ‌health crisis, according to the U.N. agency.