On the three-year mark of the Taliban’s takeover, Femena joins 31 regional and international human rights organizations and a number of journalists and activists in solidarity with Afghan women. Despite severe repression, these women continue to bravely fight for their rights and freedoms. We urge the international community to support their struggle by refusing to recognize or normalize the Taliban’s regime, labeling their treatment of women as gender apartheid, holding them accountable for gender persecution, and amplifying Afghan women’s voices on key platforms and forums. Stand with us in advocating for their courage and demanding justice.
Read the solidarity statement below:
“…It was incredibly emotional to confront the Taliban’s guns and shout at them. I found courage in pain, disappointment, and fear. We didn’t know each other personally, but we were united in our determination to confront the injustices plaguing our country and people. That’s why this movement is spontaneous, and I’m a part of it.” – Nayera Kohistani, Afghan woman protester
Today marks three years since the Taliban’s infamous takeover of Afghanistan and the detrimental setback that has plagued the country. The Taliban’s rule has plunged Afghanistan deeper into a complex humanitarian crisis, with more than 24 million people currently in need of humanitarian aid. The backlash against social, economic, political, and cultural rights has affected all of society but has disproportionately impacted women and girls, whose situation is amongst the worst globally. In the past three years, the Taliban has issued over 100 edicts that violate the full spectrum of women and girls’ rights, depriving them of their humanity and amounting to a system of gender apartheid.
Amongst the most notorious political acts of the Taliban has been the ban on secondary level education and above for girls and women––placing them at higher risk of exploitation and diminishing their livelihood opportunities and independence.
Women’s freedom of movement is severely restricted due to the Taliban’s male guardian policy. Professional opportunities have been lost under the Taliban’s employment ban, which restricts women to limited sectors like health and primary education and bans their employment in NGOs, effectively excluding them from meaningful participation in social and political life. The humanitarian crisis, worsening economic situation and exclusion of women an girls from the public sphere has put Afghan girls at higher risk of child marriage, as more parents marry off their young daughters in exchange for a dowry to avoid starvation. The dismantling of the judicial system and the lack of legal remedies for women facing domestic violence have led to increased psychological distress and suicide among women, demonstrating the Taliban’s opposition to even the basic services that ensure the well-being of women.
But the Taliban’s unmatched oppression of women is only one side of the story. Over the past three years, Afghan women have fiercely resisted this repression, challenging the Taliban’s vision for Afghanistan. They have bravely demanded their rights and fought against the Taliban’s efforts to push the country backwards, while being largely abandoned by the international community.
The women of Afghanistan are fighting to reverse the oppressive edicts of the Taliban, to ensure their daughters return to school, to restore their full spectrum of rights, and to achieve inclusive peace across the country. They seek meaningful engagement in shaping Afghanistan’s future, contrasting sharply with the Taliban’s repressive vision enforced by an all-male majority Pashtun rule. Afghan women envision a free, open, inclusive, and progressive society for their country.
On this day, we celebrate the resistance of Afghan women and recognize their persistence as a testament to their courage and efforts. We stand with them in demanding the solidarity of international stakeholders, human rights defenders, and feminist activists in their long road to justice.
We call on civil society, like-minded organizations, and individuals to stand in solidarity with Afghan women. We demand that the United Nations and governments:
Refrain from Recognizing the Taliban as the Official Government of Afghanistan: Despite increasing calls for official recognition, the Taliban has consistently failed to meet international demands for an inclusive government and the reversal of policies that violate Afghan rights, particularly those of women. The international community must uphold human rights standards by refusing to recognize a regime that continues to terrorize Afghans, especially women and minorities.
Ensure Meaningful Inclusion: Guarantee that Afghan women are genuinely included in all discussions about their country’s future, such as the Doha process. Token representation and side meetings are inadequate.
Hold the Taliban Accountable for Gender Persecution and Gender Apartheid: The UN must hold the Taliban accountable for its practice of gender persecution and, as demanded by Afghan women activists, recognize their treatment of women as gender apartheid while ensuring accountability for the perpetrators.
Support for Women’s Movements: Amplify Afghan women’s voices and provide political backing in global forums.
Provide Financial and Logistical Aid: Offer flexible, long-term support to local women’s initiatives to sustain their efforts in defending human rights.
Organizational Signatories
- ACSFo
- Actions in the Mediterranean
- Afghan Women Justice Movement
- Afghanistan Women’s Revolution Movement
- Banat of Line
- Bent El Nile
- Bihryat
- CEWLA
- Collaborative for Peace in Sudan
- Digital Democracy Now
- Doria Feminist Fund
- Farkhunda News
- FEMALE
- Female Journalists Network,Sudan
- FSJO
- HalTek
- Human Security Initiative Org
- IKWRO (Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Right Organisation)
- Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IM-Defensoras)
- International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law (IANGEL)
- Kabul Research And Development Organization
- New Thought Movement of Protesting Women
- Qarar Foundation for Media and Development
- Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
- South Asian Women’s Community Centre (SAWCC), Montreal, Canada
- Syrian Female Journalists Network
- Syrian Feminist Lobby
- Takatoat
- United for Iran
- Warshe Team
- Women for Women’s Human Rights
- Women’s Movement Towards Freedom
Individual Signatory
1. Christine El Rayess, Freelance Interpreter
2. Ebtesam Alsaegh, SALAM DHR
3. Ensaf Nasr, Syrina Feminist Lobby
4. Fariha Easar, Human Rights Defender and Social Activist
5. Fatema D. Ahmadi, Human Rights Activist
6. Joelle Santos, International Action Network for Gender Equity and Law (IANGEL), Communications and Programs Manager
7. Lima Anwari, Human Rights Advocate
8. Nisreen Tabari, Kayan
9. Noura Ghazi, Nophotozone, Director
10. Noushin Keshavarznia, Women’s Rights Activist
11. Peter Behravesh
12. Sawssan Abou-Zahr, Journalist
13. Souad Souilem, FEMALE, Editor