The Silent Suffering of Afghan Women
Shazia Mehboob
Islamabad: In a recent address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, delivered a compelling report on the escalating violations against women and girls under Taliban rule.
His stark and unambiguous words should serve as a clarion call to the global conscience. “The Taliban’s institutionalization of its system of oppression of women and girls,” Bennett stated, “should shock the conscience of humanity.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the situation for Afghan women has worsened at an alarming rate. Stricter dress codes, bans on higher education, exclusion from the job market, and severe restrictions on movement have systematically erased women from public life.
These decrees, enforced through violence—including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, and rape—constitute a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population. Bennett classified these actions as potential crimes against humanity.
The impact of this oppression spans generations. Afghan women and girls are being disempowered, their fundamental freedoms eradicated.
The Taliban’s decrees not only strip away individual rights but also entrench an inferior socioeconomic status for women, enforcing dependence on men and perpetuating a cycle of gender-based discrimination and violence.
Bennett’s description of this regime as ‘gender apartheid’ is not an exaggeration; it accurately captures the depth and ideological nature of the Taliban’s oppressive system.
The international community cannot stand idly by as these atrocities continue. Bennett’s call for an ‘all tools’ approach to dismantle the Taliban’s system of gender oppression is urgent and necessary.
This approach includes leveraging international accountability mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. Pursuing cases under the principle of universal jurisdiction at the national level is also crucial.
These steps are vital to hold the Taliban accountable and to provide justice for the countless Afghan women and girls who are suffering.
Bennett’s opposition to any legitimization of the Taliban leadership until measurable human rights improvements occur is a stance that should be echoed by global leaders.
The international community must not confer legitimacy on a regime that systematically violates human rights. Instead, they must recognize and codify the concept of gender apartheid, which Bennett believes is essential to addressing the unparalleled human rights crisis facing Afghan women.
The bravery and determination of Afghan women and girls in the face of such oppression are extraordinary. Their resilience should be met with unwavering international protection and solidarity.
Now, more than ever, the global community must act decisively and with principle, placing human rights at the forefront of all diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
The plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule is not just an Afghan issue; it is a human issue. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that the suffering of these women does not continue in silence.
The time for action is now, and the world must rise to the occasion, showing that humanity will not turn a blind eye to such grave injustices.
Photo Credit: Getty Image
