Afghan Women Face Unprecedented Repression Amid International Calls for Action

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that the situation has deteriorated significantly, with women facing systematic exclusion from education, employment, and public life, Amu TV reported. Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, HRW highlighted the Taliban’s extreme measures, such as ordering windows to be covered to prevent women from being seen outside.

In a statement, Heather Barr, associate director of women’s rights at HRW, emphasized the worsening crisis, stating, “Afghanistan not only continues to face the world’s worst women’s rights crisis, but the situation has worsened.” Afghan women’s rights activists are advocating for the classification of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, gaining support from various countries.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) echoed these concerns, urging member states to amplify Afghan women’s voices and invest in their leadership. The organization has renewed its call for the Taliban to remove restrictions that continue to strip Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights. UNAMA’s theme for International Women’s Day, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” underscores the stark reality faced by Afghan women. Roza Otunbayeva, U.N. Special Representative for Afghanistan, noted that despite severe challenges, Afghan women continue to provide essential services and advocate for their rights.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has also emphasized the restoration of women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The organization has called for global mobilization to address these issues. In a message published on Saturday, March 8, UNESCO condemned the denial of secondary education and higher education to Afghan girls and women.

The U.N. warns that Taliban policies not only violate human rights but also hinder Afghanistan’s progress and exacerbate poverty. Alison Davidian, Special Representative for UN Women Afghanistan, stressed the global responsibility to support Afghan women, stating, “Our response to their erasure is a test of our commitment to women and girls everywhere.”