Afghanistan Womens Rights

The UN Meeting in Doha on Afghanistan Concluded, but Will it be Enough to bring Freedom for Afghan Women and Girls?

In February, the UN Special Meeting on Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar concluded discussions on the way forward for Afghanistan. In a press address, the UN Secretary-General  António Guterres shared key concerns and discussion topics, including ensuring inclusivity  in all Afghan structures and institutions, as well as ways in which to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a […]

Abortion Global

France becomes the first country to enshrine abortion access as a constitutional right

Last Monday, French lawmakers approved a bill that amends the constitution to include the right to abortion. France’s landmark decision marks the first of its kind, making France the only country in the world to explicitly safeguard  abortion rights within their national constitution. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal encouraged lawmakers to make France an example […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

The Taliban Misuses Religion And Culture To Promote Their Ideology

The Taliban has launched attacks against women and girls by using religion and culture to promote their ideology of suppressing women and girls. By altering meanings and conservatively interpreting Islam and Afghanistan’s culture, they have created a severe case of gender apartheid in Afghanistan.  Recently, in a public engagement, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister of […]

Afghanistan

International Day of Education requires us to fight for women’s education everywhere. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has denied women and girls access to education.

“I love school. It brightens my future, builds up my education, and I learn about life,” Fariza, Afghan girl, UNICEF.  As the world celebrates International Day of Education, this day serves as a grim reminder of the restrictions on Afghan women’s and girls’ opportunity to pursue an education.  Afghan women and girls have been forced […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Taliban Leader: Afghan Women’s Rights “have been fully secured” despite ongoing gender apartheid 

Mullah Hibatullah, the Taliban’s leader, said in a recent statement that women’s rights in Afghanistan “have been fully secured.” The Taliban leader who has never been seen in public or by any official except Taliban members, claimed that women have been given their full rights under Sharia.  It is unclear which standards the Taliban is […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

A coalition of Afghan women, Together Stronger, defends women’s rights despite the Taliban’s gender apartheid

The Taliban has been punishing women with arrests and physical violence citing claims of what the group calls “bad hijab.” Abdul Ghafar Farooq, the spokesman for the Taliban, has stated that women “violated the Islamic values and rituals, and encouraged society and other respected sisters to go for bad hijab. In every province, those who […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Seven out of every ten people in Afghanistan are unable to meet their basic life requirements

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports that Afghanistan is in a deepening economic crisis and suffering economic insecurity under the Taliban regime. The organization stated in a report released recently that 69% of Afghanistan’s population faces a shortage of necessities such as healthcare, essential goods, suitable living conditions and job opportunities, particularly for women. […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

Taliban Imprisoning Women in the Name of Safety Raises Human Rights Concerns

In a UN report published today, the Taliban’s response to gender-based violence against women in Afghanistan has raised serious human rights concerns. Contrary to international standards, the Taliban now often referred to as the “de facto authorities” have reportedly resorted to imprisoning women as a means of protection, reflecting a divergence from established legal frameworks […]

Afghanistan Immigration

Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Face the Risk of Deportation and Human Rights Abuses

The spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern over Pakistan’s plan to deport undocumented Afghan refugees on November 1st. This will disproportionately affect more than a million Afghans who moved to Pakistan for safety.  The plan for mass deportation was announced earlier this month, after which, 59,780 individuals left […]

Afghanistan Immigration

Poll Reveals Majority of Americans Support Upholding the “Pledge” to Afghan Allies. Afghan Allies Remain in Limbo With Thousands Still Awaiting Evacuation. 

A new poll conducted in early October by With Honor Action and Ipsos found that 89% of Americans said they support keeping our pledge to Afghans who helped U.S. forces against the Taliban, with 56% of Americans “strongly” supporting the claim. 92% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans agreed, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for our […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

Afghan Women Oppose the Recognition of the Taliban. It Demonstrates the Deteriorating Conditions for Women in Afghanistan. 

In a United Nations (UN) report released in September, UN Women, IOM and UNAMA interviewed 592 Afghan women from 22 of 34 provinces of Afghanistan. The study aimed at understanding priorities, views of international engagement, and recommendations to improve women’s rights and well-being. The findings illustrate just how untenable life in Afghanistan has become for […]

Afghanistan Womens Rights

Japan Promises the Taliban to Expand Their Relations with the International Community Despite the Taliban’s Horrific Treatment of Women and Girls

During his farewell meeting, the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, highlighted Japan’s efforts to expand the Taliban’s relations with the global community and the provision of humanitarian assistance in the wake of the recent earthquake in Herat. Japan has historically maintained full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and continues to do so. The […]

Afghanistan Global Immigration

Pakistan Threatens to Deport All Afghan Refugees, Violating Refugee Rights and Putting Afghans at High Risk 

Last week, Pakistan ordered all “illegal” migrants to leave the country, leaving millions, including long-term residents with valid documents, vulnerable to being returned to Afghanistan.  According to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, “illegal” Afghan migrants are those without Proof of Registration (PoR) cards or expired Afghan Citizen cards (ACC) issued by the Pakistani government.  The […]

Afghanistan Global

Taliban Threatens to Cut Ties With Afghanistan’s Embassies Abroad

Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions abroad are grappling with financial and administrative issues, as well as pressure from the Taliban, and potential solutions include international assistance, negotiation, building internal legitimacy, coordination with international bodies, and support from the Afghan diaspora. The Taliban suspended consular services at the Afghan embassies of London and Vienna, alleging “lack of transparency […]

Afghanistan Global

Devastation from Earthquakes in Afghanistan Strikes an Already-Shaky Foundation

Authorities have confirmed over 2000 casualties following a devastating earthquake that hit northwestern Afghanistan’s Herat province. Two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes hit several districts on Saturday, followed by 7 tremors, causing mud-brick homes to collapse. Thousands of people have since been sleeping outside in freezing temperatures to protect themselves from aftershocks that could destroy their homes. Several […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

Solutions Lagging Behind the Urgency: United Nations Addressed Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan

Recently, the United Nations Security Council met to discuss the issue of gender apartheid in Afghanistan and compel the Taliban to stop policies of gender apartheid. Issues of human rights and women’s rights are fading from the global landscape’s attention. It is more important than ever to continue to fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan […]

Afghanistan Global Womens Rights

China’s Ambassador to Afghanistan as a Catalyst to Slippery Slope of International Recognition for Taliban

Recently, China announced its new ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, who presented himself at a lavish ceremony in Kabul last week. He is the first foreign envoy to occupy an ambassador position since the Taliban took power in August 2021. The Taliban has not been officially recognized by any government, but they celebrated this moment […]