On August 15, 2021, after 20 years of war in Afghanistan, foreign forces pulled out following a deal between the United States and the Taliban.
The aftermath saw a decline in human rights and an economic collapse in the country, which particularly affected women.
In light of the third anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, it is important to examine not only the consequences for Afghan women, but the broader systematic issues impeding gender equality worldwide.
The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s in northern Pakistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. They promised to restore peace and enforce Islamic law. They soon extended their influence and introduced punishments in line with their strict interpretation of Sharia law, such as public executions and stoning.
The post-Taliban constitution introduced in 2004 gave Afghan women all their deserving rights and saw progress for a better future for the women of the country.
Yalda Hakim, an Afghan-born Australian journalist and former BBC Chief Presenter, mentions the emergence of a movement trying to push for the notion of gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
Hakim describes a “sense of betrayal” felt by Afghan girls and an abandonment from the international community, “…who have turned their backs on them”. She remains “baffled” by the Taliban’s fear of educated women.
“It’s been over 1000 days since the almost immediate ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan,” Hakim says.
According to UNICEF, the ban has now impacted 1.5 million girls, who remain systematically excluded from public life. For Hakim, what is most devastating is “their basic human rights” being “taken away”.
Hakim believes it is more difficult for Afghan girls of this generation than it was for their mothers “in the 90s”, when they were banned from going to school by the Taliban.
“These girls understand what opportunities education gives them and their families,” she says.
Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO of Media Diversity Australia and winner of the 2023 ‘Most Influential Asian-Australian of the Year’ expresses a growing concern that “…the world has started to look away [from Afghanistan]”.
“The ban on education for Afghan girls sets a dangerous precedent and undermines global gender equality efforts. I have seen first-hand how debilitating this has been for members of my own extended family. It signals that women’s rights can be easily revoked, affecting progress worldwide,” she says.
Veiszadeh, born in Afghanistan during the Soviet War and arriving in Australia as a refugee at the age of seven, reflects on the Taliban’s broken promises, stating that “they were telling us what we wanted to hear.”
She persists that ‘Western powers’ were misled by the Taliban’s assurances, which “were not worth the paper they were written on.”
Afghanistan is ranked last on the United Nations ‘Women, Peace and Security Index’, which measures… Officials at the UN have called it a “gender apartheid”.
“While Afghan women have indeed fought valiantly for their rights, the support from women worldwide has been somewhat inconsistent,” Veiszadeh says. She believes global support has been lacking, “…especially in critical times when their progress was under threat.”
What is needed, Veiszadeh argues, is “more consistent advocacy, resource mobilization, and political pressure to support Afghan women.”
“I have often said that we need to stop viewing Afghanistan and Afghan women from a deficit lens and move away from the white saviour complex,” says Veiszadeh.
Veiszadeh describes the current situation for Afghan women as “the worst in recent history”, comparable to the Taliban’s previous rule. She remains uncertain about the future but says the next steps depend on international pressure and internal resistance.
A recent United Nations-hosted meeting was held between the Taliban and Member State Envoys. From what could have been a crucial opportunity to discuss women’s rights, women were excluded from this “critical conversation”, Veiszadeh says.
“This perpetuates their marginalisation,” believes Veiszadeh. “To hear Afghan women’s voices, the international community must insist on their inclusion in all diplomatic dialogues and peace processes.”
Additionally, she mentions that “providing safe channels for women to participate in decision-making processes is crucial.”
As the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan worsens, the global picture remains bleak. According to the 2023 World Economic Forum, it will take another 131 years to reach gender equality worldwide.
To some, achieving complete gender equality remains challenging due to deeply ingrained cultural norms.
“Patriarchal structures and gender biases are entrenched in many societies, making change slow and complex,” says Veiszadeh. She notes that “economic inequality and lack of political change will often impede progress.”
Veiszadeh emphasises the need for women, including culturally diverse women, to be “calling the shots”, and she says “that simply isn’t the case right now.”
Tamara Thomas, CEO of ‘Her Village Foundation’, an NGO aimed at empowering refugee women and girls, believes it is dangerous to be a woman from birth, and a lot of it has to do with education.
“We’re looking at heavily misogynistic countries, like Afghanistan and India. From the moment you’re born a woman, there is a danger in that,” Thomas says.
“When you allow a girl to be educated, their capability to do so much more and make so much change is completely increased. A girl who is stuck at home is not going to be able to have a societal impact.”
“When you empower a woman, you don’t only empower a woman, you empower a whole community of people.”
Thomas believes the Taliban remains so “intimidated” by the power of an educated woman that they must oppress and “completely restrict” half the population.
She elaborated on the importance of reframing such issues to make them resonate globally.
“Through our programs, when Australian kids meet girls their age from Afghanistan, it reframes everything. Suddenly, what they see on the news becomes an issue close to their heart because they’ve made a friend from that country.”
“For Afghan girls, education is a tool, a source of power,” Thomas says
Thomas compared the importance of education within different countries, noting that “here in Australia, school can be seen as a burden, but for girls in Afghanistan, missing out on education is a fundamental loss.”
“They understand that education is their ticket to empowerment.”
As we mark three years since the Taliban’s return to power, the plight of Afghan women remains a reminder of the global struggle for gender equality.
There is hope for gradual improvements, says Veiszadeh, but only if the global community “remains engaged and supports grassroots efforts.” She added, however, that “without significant intervention, the outlook [for the future] remains bleak.”