VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN | ASIA | ADVOCACY & POLICY | CULTURE
The Silent Erosion of Afghan Women's Rights
WORDS BY AUDREY LEUNG | A.LEUNG@THEIWI.ORG | 18 SEPTEMBER 2024
Afghanistan, a country long tangled in conflict, has once again found itself under the harsh rule of the Taliban, where the rights of women are being systematically erased. The recent severe restrictions marks a chilling new phase in the oppression of Afghan women, who have been marginalized since the Taliban's return in 2021. As we witness this regression, the global community must confront the uncomfortable reality that its efforts to safeguard the rights of Afghan women have been insufficient and complicit in their suffering.
On August 21, 2024, the Taliban implemented a new law titled “The Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” which further deepens the oppression of Afghan women. Over the past three years, the Taliban has issued numerous decrees that systematically bar women from participating in any activities outside their homes, including education, employment and even leisure activities like visiting parks. The new law mandates that women must veil their bodies completely in public, with face coverings deemed essential to avoid "temptation." It goes so far as to dictate that a woman's voice is "intimate" and should not be heard in public, whether singing, reciting or reading aloud. These regulations are not just about control; they are about erasing women from the public.
The International Community's Response
The global response to the Taliban's oppression has been characterized by condemnation, but little in concrete action. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a statement raising concerns about the new "morality law," which imposes sweeping restrictions on personal conduct and grants the Taliban's morality police broad powers of enforcement. However, these pronouncements have done little to alter the situation. This lack of effective intervention highlights a troubling trend in international diplomacy: the prioritization of geopolitical stability over human rights. While the world condemns the Taliban's actions in words, it has done little to challenge the regime's brutal policies, reflecting a broader failure to protect vulnerable populations when it is inconvenient.
A Hope Betrayed
Upon Taliban's return, there was a hope that the regime might have moderated its stance on women's rights in order to gain international recognition. For a brief period, it seemed the Taliban might be willing to allow some degree of freedom for women, as journalists continued to work, and women were still attending universities. However, this hope was quickly dashed as it became clear that the Taliban had no intention of making any real concessions. The regime's initial leniency was revealed to be nothing more than a tactical maneuver, aimed at securing access to frozen assets and gaining a seat at the United Nations. When these goals were not achieved, the Taliban reverted to its true nature, imposing even harsher restrictions on women and abandoning any pretence of reform.
This reversal has been deeply disheartening for Afghan women, who had dared to hope that they might be able to retain some of the rights they had gained over the past two decades. The new laws represent a return to the darkest days of the Taliban's first regime in the 1990s when women were virtually imprisoned in their homes and denied even the most basic rights. For women who have grown up with the possibility of education and a career, the Taliban's actions are a cruel reminder of how fragile their freedoms have always been. The regime's betrayal of its early promises of moderation has left many women feeling abandoned by both their government and the international community, which seems unwilling or unable to intervene on their behalf.
The Unseen Resistance
Despite the overwhelming repression they face, Afghan women are not remaining silent. In a powerful act of defiance, many have taken to social media to protest the new laws, using their voices—quite literally—as a form of resistance. Videos of women singing, reciting poetry, and speaking out against the Taliban's restrictions have flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by hashtags such as #LetUsExist and #MyVoiceIsNotForbidden. These online protests are a testament to the resilience and courage of Afghan women, who refuse to be silenced, even as the Taliban tries to erase them from public life. These acts of defiance are not just symbolic; they are a reminder to the world that Afghan women will not go quietly into the night, no matter how harsh the repression they face.
However, these acts of resistance also highlight the desperate situation in which Afghan women find themselves. With few other avenues available to them, social media has become one of the only platforms where they can express their dissent. But even this is fraught with danger, as the Taliban has been known to monitor online activities and punish those who speak out against the regime.
The Limits of International Leverage
The international community's ability to influence the Taliban is severely constrained by the regime's indifference to external pressure. Sanctions, travel bans, and diplomatic isolation have had little effect on the Taliban's policies, which are driven by an uncompromising ideology that places little value on international approval. The regime's leaders are more concerned with maintaining their grip on power and enforcing their vision of an Islamic state than with gaining recognition or access to the global financial system. This indifference has rendered traditional forms of diplomatic pressure largely ineffective, leaving the international community with few options for addressing the Taliban's human rights abuses.
Moreover, the need to maintain humanitarian aid to Afghanistan complicates efforts to take a harder line against the Taliban. Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with millions of people dependent on international assistance for their survival. The United Nations and other aid organizations must walk a fine line between condemning the Taliban's actions and maintaining the access necessary to deliver aid to those in need. A more confrontational approach could result in these organizations being expelled from the country, cutting off lifelines for millions of Afghans. This dilemma has forced the international community into a position where it must engage with the Taliban, even as it deplores the regime's treatment of women.
A Future at Risk
The Taliban's new laws represent not just a setback for women's rights, but a fundamental threat to their very existence as free and equal members of society. As the Taliban continues to tighten its grip on the country, the window of opportunity for meaningful intervention is rapidly closing.
Yet, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Afghan women continue to fight for their rights, using whatever means are available to them. Their resistance, though largely symbolic at this point, is a powerful reminder that the human spirit cannot be crushed, no matter how oppressive the regime. The world must not forget the plight of Afghan women and must continue to seek ways to support them in their struggle. Whether through diplomatic pressure, humanitarian aid or public advocacy, the international community has a responsibility to stand with Afghan women and ensure that their voices are not silenced forever.
As we look to the future, it is clear that the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan is far from over. The Taliban may have succeeded in suppressing women for now, but the spirit of resistance remains strong. The international community must recognize this resilience and provide the support necessary to ensure that Afghan women can continue to fight for their rights. Only by standing together can we hope to turn the tide against the Taliban's oppression and build a future where all Afghans, regardless of gender, can live in freedom and dignity.