From television screens and universities to the national parliament, Afghan women spent two decades battling to have their voices heard and their faces seen. In a matter of days, they are disappearing from public view.

Following the Taliban's lightning fast takeover of Afghanistan this month, some rights and aid organizations have been removing pictures of female beneficiaries, staff and other local women from their websites, officials and employees have said.

"Our utmost priority ... is to ensure the safety and security of our teams ... (and) of the women and girls with whom we are working and for whom we are working," said Mohammad Naciri, U.N. Women's director for Asia and the Pacific.