The Fate of Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Since the 2001 removal of the Taliban regime, Afghan women and girls had unprecedented opportunities and made significant progress especially in education, healthcare and participation in the public sphere. With the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, women and girls face an uncertain future with draconian measures including loss of gains made in all areas of economic, civic and social life. Taliban rule has had a devastating impact on the female population at large with monumental barriers to their participation across public life including law, politics, and academia with increased threats of gender-based violence, child marriage and severe restrictions on their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, including choice of attire. Furthermore, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis has exacerbated the dire situation for women and girls who are struggling to survive while caught in a system of gender apartheid.

Today, one year after America’s departure, Afghan women and girls rightfully feel abandoned. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Act of 2017 specifically requires Washington to promote the role of women and girls in peace, security, and conflict prevention. The crisis in Afghanistan, not only warrants serious concern but also poignantly raises these issues.

It is therefore, of crucial importance to protect Afghan women and girls as the Taliban continue to engage in human rights abuses. How can the international community support women’s rights and the Women, Peace and Security agenda amid conflict? And what strategic adjustments can be undertaken to elevate the voices of women and girls and keep their voices at the center of US and foreign policy amid ongoing Taliban suppression?

Come get answers to these questions and learn more from Women’s Rights Activist and Historian Dr. Nina Ansary.