New Taliban regulations severely restrict women’s freedoms in Afghanistan, intensifying their already oppressive measures.
At a Glance
- Women face severe restrictions on education, employment, and public life.
- The international community’s response has been inadequate and lacks urgency.
- Critics describe the situation as “gender apartheid,” with systematic violations of women’s rights.
- Efforts at diplomatic engagement with the Taliban have proven ineffective.
Severe New Restrictions
The Taliban’s latest regulations in Afghanistan severely restrain women’s freedoms. The laws forbid Afghan women from engaging with unrelated men and from public speech, singing, or reading the Koran. These measures erode women’s rights and public visibility, exacerbating their oppression and social isolation.
An activist in Kabul established a tutoring center to counter the Taliban’s ban on girls attending secondary school. This is a small yet significant attempt to circumvent the restrictions placed on education. Despite these efforts, women face surveillance, harassment, and serious consequences for protesting against the new regulations.
“Banning Afghan women from working with the UN in Afghanistan is an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights.”
– @antonioguterres calls on Taliban to reverse measures restricting women’s & girls’ rights to work, learn & freedom of movement. https://t.co/6E9nVwSkXp pic.twitter.com/vKt50BMNB0
— United Nations (@UN) April 5, 2023
Systematic Violations of Rights
Since regaining power, the Taliban have created a severe women’s rights crisis, imposing systemic violations that include bans on education, employment, and political participation. Women’s rights in Afghanistan have regressed to pre-2002 levels, erasing 20 years of progress.
“What we saw just across the board was sweeping support for women’s human rights,” said Carpenter.
The international community has responded inadequately to the crisis, with diplomatic engagements often sidelining women’s issues. Human rights organizations have accused the Taliban of committing crimes against humanity, citing these repressive measures as “gender apartheid.”
.@StateDeptSpox: The U.S. condemns the Taliban’s indefensible decision to ban women from universities, keep secondary schools closed to girls, and continue to impose other restrictions on the ability of women and girls in Afghanistan to exercise their human rights. pic.twitter.com/IGkjxl59lT
— Department of State (@StateDept) December 20, 2022
Growing Humanitarian Concerns
Women and girls are excluded from secondary and tertiary education and many workplaces. This rollback of rights hampers post-war economic recovery efforts. Afghan women report feeling invisible and living in prison-like conditions under Taliban rule.
“In 2002, after years of being denied their rights under the previous Taliban regime, Afghan women celebrated International Women’s Day full of hope.”
Furthermore, women are banned from places like amusement parks, public baths, gyms, sports clubs, and NGO offices. The resulting economic impact is evident, as women’s contributions to the economy, once significant, are now virtually erased.
