Taliban’s Brutal Crackdown: Afghan Women’s Rights Pushed to the Brink
KUALA LUMPUR / JOHANNESBURG – Afghanistan is currently facing a dire situation as the Taliban’s brutal crackdown on women’s rights has pushed the country to the brink. It has been two years since the Taliban took over, and any progress made in advancing human rights, particularly women’s rights and access to education, has been reversed and replaced with severe restrictions.
The Taliban regime has implemented institutionalized restrictions against women, dismissing them from public service and preventing girls from attending school and university. Additionally, in December 2022, they banned women from working with NGOs and aid agencies, demonstrating their anti-human rights agenda.
Human rights defenders and their families have become targets of harassment, detention, and attacks in their own homes. The regime has dissolved Afghanistan’s independent human rights commission, leaving no internal mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable for their actions. They act with impunity, answerable only to themselves.
One prominent figure who symbolizes the Taliban’s war against women’s education and empowerment is Matiullah Wesa, a girls’ education campaigner and founder of PenPath, an organization dedicated to providing education to girls in rural areas. Matiullah’s arrest in March 2023 signifies the suppression of his efforts to bring education to girls. His detention has resulted in a significant setback in providing much-needed support to communities.
The Taliban actively monitors and targets women activists on social media platforms and identifies protest leaders. Protests against the restrictions on women’s rights have been met with violence and arrests. However, despite the reprisals and threats, Afghan women continue to mobilize and raise awareness about the dire situation in their country. By holding indoor and online protests, they ensure that the international community does not forget about the state of human rights in Afghanistan.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening, with the number of people living in poverty increasing to 97%. Over 28 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance. The restrictions imposed on women in government ministries and the ban on women working for NGOs have devastating consequences for families and communities that rely on their services. Women are also confined to their homes, barred from accessing gyms, swimming pools, and public parks.
To address this crisis, international actors such as the European Union, United Kingdom, India, and humanitarian organizations should refrain from providing any form of formal recognition to the Taliban regime. Instead, they should support Afghan women rights activists in exile. Ongoing and future dialogues to negotiate humanitarian corridors should prioritize respect for human rights and the lifting of current restrictions on women and girls.
The United Nations Security Council’s resolution on Afghanistan acknowledging the Taliban’s violation of human rights and the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan are significant steps. However, more needs to be done. The Security Council should continue prioritizing Afghanistan and push for accountability mechanisms within the country. Furthermore, an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue, led by a neutral party, is essential to finding a resolution.
The situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with Afghan women and their rights under constant threat. The international community must not forget the dire circumstances faced by Afghan women and continue to advocate for their rights and support their fight for true equality and empowerment.
