Afghan women-led organizations adapt advocacy amid Taliban restrictions

A detailed report titled “Leadership in Adversity: Women-Led Organizations’ Strategies for Effective Advocacy in Afghanistan” sheds light on the resilience of Afghan women-led organizations in advocating for women’s rights under the Taliban’s restrictive regime.

Published by the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF) in partnership with the Women’s Voice and Leadership in Humanitarian Settings (WHS) project, the report highlights the strategic shifts these organizations have made to sustain their advocacy efforts.

Before August 2021, Afghan women’s rights saw notable progress, with growing recognition of women’s roles in decision-making and gender equality initiatives. However, the Taliban’s return to power reversed these achievements, imposing severe restrictions on women’s participation in public life.

The report describes a “hostile environment full of threats and violence,” forcing many women-led groups to pivot their focus from public advocacy to community-level initiatives.
Organizations have integrated women’s rights advocacy into humanitarian projects, addressing immediate needs like livelihoods while continuing their efforts discreetly.

Despite diminished international support, they have leveraged global platforms and digital tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams to amplify Afghan women’s voices. International advocacy has also gained momentum.

In September 2024, coordinated efforts by Afghan women-led groups led to Canada, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands announcing plans to file a complaint against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Consultations with over 2,100 Afghan women informed these global initiatives, ensuring grassroots realities were represented.

The report highlights challenges, including limited digital literacy, restricted access to technology, exclusion from international decision-making platforms, and insufficient flexible funding. Despite these obstacles, Afghan women-led organizations have improved coordination between those within Afghanistan and the diaspora, enabling collective action and participation in international events.

The report calls for increased global support, urging flexible funding and the inclusion of Afghan women-led organizations in decision-making processes. Documenting their resilience, it underscores their determination to address the ongoing humanitarian and gender crises in Afghanistan.