Activists advocating for the recognition of Afghanistan’s current situation assert that the challenges faced by women today amount to what can only be described as a crime against humanity. In a recent conversation, Sima Samar, who famously coined the term “gender apartheid” in the 1990s, expressed deep concern over the systematic oppression that has surged under the Taliban regime. “When the first Taliban regime fell, it seemed inconceivable that we would face such severe persecution and systematic repression of Afghan women simply because of their gender,” said Samar, a former women’s affairs minister now living in exile. “Yet here we are in 2024, confronting the same horrors, and it’s more important than ever that we strive for justice.”
At the end of 2023, a campaign was launched aimed at having the United Nations recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. This initiative has been powered by Afghan women living abroad who are resolute in stopping the Taliban’s assault on their rights. “Racial apartheid has been condemned as a crime against humanity since 1973. If we substitute ‘racial’ with ‘gender,’ it starkly illustrates what is happening to Afghan women and girls,” emphasized Samar.
Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, they have implemented more than 80 decrees that severely restrict the lives of women and girls. These include barring girls from secondary education, prohibiting women from nearly all employment, and denying them access to the justice system and public parks. The Taliban mandates that women cover themselves completely in public, with severe penalties for non-compliance, including stoning for so-called offenses like adultery.
Samar voiced frustration at the global community’s inaction: “There has been no effective condemnation or action to stop the assault on women’s rights; it has fallen to Afghan women to fight alone.”
Mariam Safi, another activist, noted that the experiences of Afghan women living in exile are becoming increasingly ignored by policymakers. “Decision-makers often find it easy to overlook our viewpoints, especially when they challenge their narratives,” explained Safi, founder of the Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (Drops). “But they cannot overlook the data that reveals the true impact of Taliban rule on women in Afghanistan.”
Safi’s Bishnaw project gathers data through surveys and interviews to provide tangible evidence that supports calls for accountability. Recently, the project surveyed over 3,600 women across 19 provinces, finding that 67% felt that the restrictions were indicative of systemic oppression. Additionally, 60% supported the UN’s use of the term “gender apartheid” to describe their situation.
Another survey indicated that 83% of 2,100 women reported being negatively impacted by the Taliban’s ban on women distributing humanitarian aid, while 69% were aware of girls being married off at inappropriate ages since the regime’s takeover.
While activists remain hopeful that the UN will soon officially recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan, there are concerns about the ramifications of such recognition, especially concerning humanitarian aid. Nonetheless, Samar maintains that categorizing these violations is essential for holding the Taliban accountable. “We must label these actions so they cannot be brushed aside as cultural or religious issues. Simple condemnation isn’t enough; it needs to be codified into law to end this culture of impunity.”
