ECHOES OF OPPRESSION: WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR RIGHTS UNDER THE TALIBAN POLICY BRIEF, #IWD 8th MARCH 2024
Today’s #IWD Policy Brief evaluates the Taliban’s suppression of human rights in Afghanistan, focusing on its impact on women and girls. It draws on literature reviews and first hand accounts from Afghan women across eight geographical zones, as well as insights from human rights experts both within and outside the country, to analyse the challenges posed by the Taliban’s regime.
As mankind globally celebrate progress and success for women and girls, this important brief created from literature review and first hand in country reports gives clear insights and recommendations for action.
Soroptimists are keen to disseminate this information on International Women’s Day, please share, tag your MPs, send it to Ministers, commend it to your friends and family and anyone who can focus effort on enabling change and influencing foreign aid and United Nations (UN) action. As the Commission on the Status of Women CSW68 starts this is a perfect opportunity for soroptimists attending and providing updates to speak and share.
The 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, will take place this year from 11 – 22 March under the priority theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.
INTRODUCTION
The seizure of power by the Taliban in August 2021 has catapulted Afghanistan into a profound humanitarian calamity, with the gravest impact falling on women and girls. Their essential rights are being systematically dismantled. Over 3 million girls have been ousted from secondary education, marking an alarming 85% drop in enrolment. This regression erases years of advancement, alienating girls from their social circles, limiting their access to enlightenment, and smothering their potential, thereby ensnaring them in cycles of impoverishment and dependency.[1] Afghanistan has witnessed a dramatic decline in women’s rights, raising concerns about the emergence of “gender apartheid.” Edicts and restrictions imposed by the Taliban have systematically excluded women from various aspects of public life. This systematic discrimination, documented by the UN and human rights organizations, has drawn comparisons to apartheid due to its pervasive and entrenched nature.[2]
The surge in early and coerced marriages, driven by economic distress and the Taliban’s doctrinal interpretations, robs young girls of their innocence, subjects them to physical and psychological harm, and denies their educational dreams. These oppressive measures not only contravene basic human rights but also debilitate the social and economic fabric of Afghanistan. The empowerment and education of women are pivotal for the progress of any society, and the disregard for the rights of Afghan women equates to a neglect of the nation’s prosperity.[3]
The imposition of travel restrictions on women drastically curtails their access to vital healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. In many provinces, women are effectively under house arrest, forbidden from venturing out without a male escort, which significantly diminishes their engagement in societal activities.[4]
This policy brief evaluates the Taliban’s suppression of human rights in Afghanistan, focusing on its impact on women and girls. It draws on literature reviews and first hand accounts from Afghan women across eight geographical zones, as well as insights from human rights experts both within and outside the country, to analyze the challenges posed by the Taliban’s regime. The analysis involved consultations with gender experts, human rights advocates, and international organization representatives, offering a combination of perspectives to propose actionable, context-aware recommendations to improve the situation of Afghan women and girls under the Taliban regime and to address the severe effects of the Taliban’s policies on women’s access to education, healthcare, legal rights, and economic opportunities, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention and support. It suggests international pressure, support for local women’s initiatives, strategic engagement, targeted aid, and ongoing advocacy efforts. The goal is to engage global and local resources to empower Afghan women and girls, which is essential for achieving human rights and justice in Afghanistan.
CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES
Gender-Apartheid: Recent reports have underscored the alarming degradation of women’s rights in Afghanistan, describing the Taliban’s oppressive regime as a form of “gender apartheid.” United Nations experts have pointed out that the extreme discrimination faced by Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule could be classified as gender persecution, a severe violation of human rights amounting to a crime against humanity. The experts have highlighted the Taliban’s systemic discrimination designed to completely dominate women and girls, representing one of the most severe global attacks on their rights in recent years. The imposition of over 140 Taliban decrees has systematically dismantled the protective mechanisms, laws, and institutions that previously safeguarded women’s rights in Afghanistan. These draconian restrictions, which have been progressively tightened, prohibit women from engaging in most forms of employment and higher education and deny them the essential autonomy to leave their homes without a male guardian, significantly exacerbating violence against women and girls and marking a grim escalation in the regime’s brutal suppression of women’s participation in public and economic life.[5]
Education: The resurgence of the Taliban regime has dealt a devastating blow to the education of girls in Afghanistan. An overwhelming 97% of girls have been barred from secondary education, erasing significant advancements made over the years. This dire situation has dashed the hopes of countless young girls, confining them to illiteracy and depriving them of the essential skills required for a meaningful contribution to society. According to a study by the World Bank, this exclusion has resulted in 2.5 million secondary-age girls missing out on education, translating to a staggering loss of $5.5 billion in Afghanistan’s GDP annually. This is not merely a loss of individual potential but a devastating blow to the nation’s future.
Further exacerbating this crisis, a 50% decline in literacy rates among girls following the Taliban’s ascent to power is severely compromising their participation in civic life and economic development. Despite these formidable barriers, a UNICEF survey recently revealed that 90% of Afghan girls harbour a solid aspiration to return to their educational pursuits, underscoring their indomitable spirit and the critical importance of education amidst adversity.[6]
Livelihoods: Women in Afghanistan are increasingly restricted from participating in the workforce, with the World Bank noting a significant reduction in female workforce participation from 22% to just 10%. In July 2023, the Taliban banned all beauty salons in Afghanistan, justifying the move on religious grounds and forcing the closure of these women-run establishments. The new decree was enforced within a month, causing 60,000 women to lose their jobs.[7]
The restriction has significantly worsened the economic plight of many families. In October 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted that Afghanistan is among 18 critical hotspots facing severe hunger challenges. Forecasts predict a steep decrease in food security from November 2023 to April 2024.[8]
A report by Save the Children in December 2023 pointed out the severe effects of food scarcity on Afghan children, with an estimated 15.8 million people expected to face acute food insecurity in the coming months. Although this represents a minor improvement from the previous year, the situation remains highly concerning.[9]
Furthermore, the WFP has urgently called for $670 million in funds to deliver vital food, nutritional support, and assistance to 15.2 million individuals in Afghanistan until June 2024. This call to action stresses the dire consequences of failing to meet this funding gap and highlights the crucial need for global support to alleviate the crisis.[10]
Socio-economic Barriers: Taliban policies pose substantial obstacles, yet entrenched socio-economic factors further impede women’s advancement. Discriminatory inheritance practices curtail women’s rights to land and property, undermining their financial autonomy and capacity for independent decision-making. The World Bank underscores the critical challenge of limited transportation access in rural locales, obstructing women’s pursuit of education, health services, and economic ventures. Additionally, UN Women points out the absence of secure venues for female entrepreneurs, presenting further hurdles to their business endeavours.[11]
The Afghan economy has suffered immensely due to ongoing instability, international sanctions, and domestic challenges under Taliban rule. The International Crisis Group forecasts a potential contraction of the country’s GDP by 30% in 2024, with the poverty rate potentially escalating to 97%. Such economic downturns are likely to exacerbate the living conditions and scarcity of resources for millions, particularly impacting women and girls who confront numerous obstacles and vulnerabilities.
A 2023 report by Human Rights Watch discusses how discriminatory inheritance practices render numerous women reliant on male family members, heightening their susceptibility to mistreatment and exploitation. Furthermore, a 2023 World Bank report reveals that a mere 15% of women in rural Afghan areas have access to public transportation, severely restricting their economic prospects. A 2022 report from UN Women draws attention to the scarcity of specialized marketplaces for female merchants, compelling them to conduct business in overcrowded and unsafe conditions.[12]
Healthcare: Healthcare accessibility, already constrained, has intensified as a challenge for women in rural regions. UNICEF reports that a mere 30% of healthcare facilities are staffed by female providers, erecting substantial barriers to obtaining crucial services, especially those related to reproductive health. This scarcity of access gravely affects women’s health and well-being, exacerbating their struggles.[13]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented a 20% rise in maternal mortality rates post-Taliban resurgence, attributing this increase to the scarcity of skilled birth attendants and quality healthcare services. Furthermore, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has noted a significant uptick in mental health concerns among Afghan women, driven by a climate of fear, uncertainty, and a pronounced lack of psychosocial support.[14]
LIMITED ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND LEGAL PROTECTION
Formal Legal System: The Taliban’s imposition of draconian and discriminatory edicts has drastically undermined the legal autonomy, rights, and protections of Afghan women, replacing progressive laws with strict interpretations of Sharia law. This regime has dismantled vital institutions like the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission—key advocates for women’s rights—and suspended critical laws such as the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Such actions have not only stripped women and girls of their legal defences but have also heightened their vulnerability to discrimination and injustice. The closure of the Legal Aid Organization of Afghanistan, a crucial source of legal assistance due to security and financial issues, has left women without support in a system that blatantly violates their fundamental human rights.[15]
The enforcement of restrictive legal measures by the Taliban has eroded women’s economic autonomy and security, notably by curtailing inheritance rights and reducing the credibility of their testimonies in comparison to men’s. Moreover, limitations on women’s capacity to represent themselves or others in court have denied them fair trial rights, deepening gender-based legal disparities. The pervasive fear of severe punishments for challenging Taliban decrees or male authority discourages women from seeking justice, further exacerbated by societal stigma, resulting in a situation where women’s voices are silenced both legally and socially, without the means to challenge their oppression effectively.[16]
Informal Justice Mechanisms: In Afghanistan’s prevailing context, women’s recourse to informal justice mechanisms such as adjudication by local elders, religious leaders, or tribal councils demonstrates limited effectiveness, inherently biased towards male dominion, and perpetuating egregious practices like forced marriages, baad (the exchange of girls to settle disputes), and honor killings. These traditional modalities lack a structured legal framework to ensure accountability and the principles of due process, rendering women exceedingly susceptible to arbitrary and prejudiced resolutions. Women entrapped within these informal systems often confront coercion, are pressured into accepting inequitable settlements, or are subjected to further maltreatment devoid of critical safeguards like legal representation, confidentiality, or the right to appeal. Such systemic legal barriers and vulnerabilities underscore the acute need for the international community’s immediate and enduring intervention, alongside demands for reform from Taliban authorities, to safeguard Afghan women’s rights and ensure their access to justice, embodying a fundamental human rights imperative.[17]
LACK OF SOCIAL PROTECTION
Funding shortfalls: Global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, and the humanitarian situations in Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, Palestine, and Ethiopia, have diverted resources away from Afghanistan, leaving a significant gap in the humanitarian response. According to OCHA, only 54 percent of the $3.06 billion required for the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was funded as of 31 October 2024.[18]
Taliban restrictions: The Taliban have imposed strict and discriminatory rules on aid delivery and access to women, such as requiring male escorts, segregating health facilities, and banning female staff from working with international organizations. These restrictions have hampered the delivery of life-saving assistance and services to millions of women and girls in need and have increased the risks of exploitation and abuse. Human Rights Watch reported that the Taliban have harassed, threatened, and detained aid workers, especially women, and have interfered with the impartiality and independence of humanitarian operations.[19]
Food insecurity: Afghanistan is facing a severe food insecurity crisis, exacerbated by the drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict, and the economic decline. According to Oxfam, more than 18 million people need food assistance, and more than 3 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition. Rural women and their families are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, as they depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods and nutrition. The report also highlighted the challenges and risks that women face in accessing food, such as insecurity, displacement, gender-based violence, and discrimination.[20]
Increased domestic violence: Women’s erasure, economic hardship, and social stress have contributed to an increase in domestic violence against women and girls. According to Amnesty International, many women and girls have been trapped in abusive situations, with limited or no access to shelters, counseling, and legal aid, due to the closure or takeover of these facilities by the Taliban. The report also documented cases of women and girls being killed, injured, or tortured by their abusive husbands or relatives, with no legal recourse or protection. Moreover, many women and girls face social stigma and fear of repercussions from their families or communities if they report abuse or seek help.[21]
Violence against women and girls remains a profoundly troubling issue, with domestic violence incidents surging by 30% since August 2021, as reported by UN Women. The prevalence of forced marriages is escalating, especially among displaced populations and ethnic minorities, a situation Human Rights Watch has highlighted. Additionally, targeted aggression towards female activists, journalists, and defenders of human rights has instilled a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation, severely curtailing their liberties of speech and movement. The BBC’s report on the assassination of a female journalist starkly underscores the perilous conditions facing women who dare to voice their dissent or pursue journalistic endeavours.[22]
The Taliban’s rationalizations starkly contravene international human rights standards, lacking any robust basis in either legal or theological terms. Compounded by entrenched socio-economic disparities and escalating security dilemmas, these factors significantly impede women’s access to essential resources, opportunities for advancement, and personal safety. Effectively confronting these grave issues necessitates a comprehensive strategy that synergizes global advocacy, community-level engagement, and empowerment of women-led initiatives, aiming to dismantle the oppressive structures that jeopardize their rights and freedoms.
The continuous erosion of Afghan women’s rights demands immediate and decisive action in multiple areas. Implementing the recommendations below would demonstrate the international community’s commitment to protecting Afghan women’s rights and preserving their dignity. This endeavor goes beyond a mere ethical duty; it is a crucial investment in Afghanistan’s future.
- Mobilize resources to establish and support virtual schools and educational programs for Afghan girls, ensuring their right to education is upheld despite Taliban restrictions.
- Launch a global advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of girls’ education in Afghanistan, pressuring the Taliban through diplomatic channels and international forums to reverse their bans on female education.
- Create targeted economic sanctions against Taliban leaders while providing direct financial support and technical training to women’s enterprises and NGOs working within Afghanistan to sustain women’s employment and entrepreneurship.
- Fund initiatives connecting Afghan women entrepreneurs with global markets, ensuring their products can be sold internationally, bypassing local restrictions on women’s work.
- Enact policies that encourage international investments in sectors of the Afghan economy that are accessible to women, such as agriculture, handicrafts, and digital services. This will provide economic opportunities and financial independence to women.
- Support legislation in international forums that condemns and imposes sanctions on regimes, including the Taliban, that systematically violate women’s rights, thereby increasing pressure on them to amend their discriminatory policies.
- Advocate for and fund the establishment of mobile health clinics and telemedicine services targeted at rural and inaccessible areas in Afghanistan to ensure women and girls receive the healthcare services they need.
- Push for international health organizations to prioritize and allocate resources for women’s health programs in Afghanistan, specifically those focusing on maternal health, mental health, and reproductive rights.
- Should establish a dedicated task force focused on addressing gender apartheid in Afghanistan. This task force should monitor human rights abuses, coordinate international efforts to pressure the Taliban to amend their policies, and implement strategies to support Afghan women and girls. The task force should work closely with local women’s organizations to provide on-the-ground support and ensure that international aid and interventions are effectively targeted to meet the needs of those most affected by gender apartheid.
- Urge the UN Security Council to adopt resolutions that specifically address the issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan, creating legal frameworks that protect Afghan women and girls from gender-based violence and discrimination.
- Support the establishment of a UN-led monitoring mechanism to document abuses of women’s rights in Afghanistan, ensuring that there is an international legal record that can be used to hold the Taliban accountable.
- Call for a special UN Human Rights Council session to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, focusing on the impact on women and girls and to mobilize international support and intervention strategies.
- Online courses that target young women in Afghanistan and help them acquire professional knowledge, such as nursing, midwives, accounting, teaching, marketing for handicrafts, etc.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2023, March 16). School’s Out: Girls Secondary Education Denied in Afghanistan. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/20/afghanistan-supporting-education-girls-women
[2] UN News. (2023, October 26). Induce Taliban to End ‘Gender Apartheid’ in Afghanistan through All Available Means, Speakers Urge Security Council, Alarmed by Growing Oppression of Women, Girls. https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15421.doc.htm
[3] United Nations General Assembly. (2023, October 4). As rights of women and girls plunge to lower than previous depths, Third Committee urges nations to tackle violence, address poverty, bolster rural development. https://press.un.org/en/2023/gashc4376.doc.htm
[4] Amnesty International. (2023, July 25). Afghanistan: Taliban restrictions on women’s movement causing ‘untold suffering.’ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/05/afghanistan-talibans-treatment-of-women-and-girls-should-be-investigated-as-the-crime-against-humanity-of-gender-persecution/
[5] United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. (2023, July 11). Experts: Taliban treatment of women may be “gender apartheid.” OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org; United States Institute of Peace. (2023). Two Years of the Taliban’s ‘Gender Apartheid’ in Afghanistan. https://www.usip.org; Von Hein, S. (2023, December 20). Afghanistan: Calls for ending Taliban’s ‘gender apartheid’. Deutsche Welle (DW). https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-calls-for-ending-talibans-gender-apartheid/a-67784233
[6] Fetrat, S. (2023, March 24). One year on, the Taliban still attacking girls’ right to education. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/24/one-year-taliban-still-attacking-girls-right-education; World Bank. (2023, June 15). “The Economic Impact of the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37004
[7] Al Jazeera: (2023, July 26). Beauty salons in Afghanistan are closing–on Taliban orders. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/7/26/beauty-salons-in-afghanistan-are-closing-on-taliban-orders; Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry: (2023, July 6). Over 60000 Women in Afghanistan Will Lose Jobs Due to Closure of Beauty Salons [Press Release]. Khaama Press. https://www.khaama.com/over-60000-afghan-women-will-lose-thier-jobs-due-to-closure-of-beauty-salons/
[8] FAO & WFP. (2023). Hunger hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity November 2023-April 2024. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6631en
[9] Save the Children. (2023, December 14). Afghanistan: 3.2 million children face acute food insecurity as winter sets in. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/afghanistan-32-million-children-face-acute-food-insecurity-winter-sets
[10] WFP. (2024, January 4). WFP urgently needs US$670 million to reach 15.2 million people in Afghanistan. https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-urgently-needs-us670-million-reach-152-million-people-afghanistan
[11] Human Rights Watch. Afghanistan: Rise in Forced Marriages Under Taliban Rule. May 2, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/08/15/joint-statement-call-justice-accountability-and-effective-response-ongoing; World Bank. (2023, June 15). The Economic Impact of the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37004: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37004
[12] United Nations Women. (2022, December 9). Afghanistan: Women entrepreneurs struggle to survive amid crises. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/afghanistan
[13] UNICEF. (2023, June 17). Afghanistan: Children and women bear the brunt of the crisis. UNICEF. (2023). Afghanistan humanitarian situation report: 1-30 September 2023. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6631en
[14] Médecins Sans Frontières. (2023). Persistent barriers to access healthcare in Afghanistan: The ripple effects of a protracted crisis and a staggering economic situation. http://2023dev.msf.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Report_Persistent%20Barriers%20to%20Access%20Healthcare%20in%20Afghanistan_FINAL.pdf
[15] UN News. (2021, September 24). Afghanistan: Crackdown continues women’s rights, UN says. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/09/1100052; OHCHR. (2021, October 8). Afghanistan: Taliban’s arbitrary arrests and detention of women and girls over dress code must end immediately, UN experts say. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27669&LangID=E; UN Women. (2021, September 15). Brief No. 2: Legal and justice system changes and implications for gender equality and women’s rights in Afghanistan since the Taliban take-over on 15 August 2021. https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20eseasia/docs/publications/2021/09/afghanistan%20brief%20no%202%20legal%20and%20justice%20system%20changes%20and%20implications%20for%20gender%20equality%20and%20womens%20rights.pdf?la=en&vs=1999; UN Women. (2021, September 7). Gender alert I: Women’s rights in Afghanistan: Where are we now? https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20eseasia/docs/publications/2021/09/afghanistan%20gender%20alert%20i%20womens%20rights%20in%20afghanistan%20where%20are%20we%20now.pdf?la=en&vs=1999; Human Rights Watch. (2021, September 27). Could the World Court Address Women’s Rights in Afghanistan? https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/27/could-world-court-address-womens-rights-afghanistan
[16] Amnesty International. (2022). Death in slow motion: Women and girls under Taliban rule. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2022/07/women-and-girls-under-taliban-rule-afghanistan/; Ahmadi, B., & Worden, S. (2022). The Taliban continue to tighten their grip on Afghan women and girls. United States Institute of Peace. https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/12/taliban-continue-tighten-their-grip-afghan-women-and-girls; Thomas, C. (2022). Afghan women and girls: Status and congressional action (CRS Report No. IF11646). Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11646
[17] Human Rights Watch. (2024). Death in slow motion: Women and girls under Taliban rule. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/afghanistan; Luccaro, T., & Gaston, E. (2023). Women’s access to justice in Afghanistan: Individual versus community barriers to justice. United States Institute of Peace. https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PW98_Women)’s-Access-to-Justice-in-Afghanistan.pdf
[18] UN OCHA. (2024). Afghanistan: Humanitarian needs and response plan 2024. https://www.unocha.org/afghanistan; OCHA. (2023). Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024 (December 2023). https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2024-december-2023
[19] Human Rights Watch. (2024). World Report 2024: Afghanistan. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/afghanistan
[20] Oxfam. (2023). Afghanistan: Food insecurity and malnutrition. https://www.oxfam.org/en/emergencies/afghanistan-food-insecurity-and-malnutrition
[21] Amnesty International. (2022). Death in slow motion: Women and girls under Taliban rule. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2022/07/women-and-girls-under-taliban-rule-afghanistan/
[22] United Nations Women. (2023, July 26). Afghanistan: Escalating Violence Creates Climate of Fear for Women and Girls. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/af-Consultation-report-UNWomenIOMUNAMA-130623.pdf; Human Rights Watch. (2023, May 2). Afghanistan: Rise in Forced Marriages Under Taliban Rule.https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/08/15/joint-statement-call-justice-accountability-and-effective-response-ongoing;BBC. (2023, January 12). Afghan journalist Mursal Nabizada shot dead in Jalalabad. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64285789
Illustration Image Credit: Mona Chalabi https://monachalabi.com/