Taliban Takeover: The Impact on Afghan Women
Article by Presley Frank | Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
“Afghan women and girls are facing both the collapse of their rights and dreams and risks to their basic survival,” said Halima Kazem-Stojanovic, a faculty member of SJSU’s Human Rights Institute. Afghan Women's and girls’ rights are being severely violated following the Taliban’s devastating takeover. The fundamental right to live and make decisions regarding one’s own life is an unknown privilege for Afghan women and girls. In Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban, women, and girls are not allowed to make their own decisions, receive an education or pursue a career, and they face sexism in their everyday lives.
On August 15th, 2021 the lives of Afghan women and girls changed drastically. Following the Taliban takeover, sexism in Afghanistan's governmental and societal systems has increased rapidly. Afghan women are consistently denied the freedom to expression, movement, press, religion, and more. Every day, the women and girls of Afghanistan are robbed of their power and independence. Heather Barr, the associate women’s rights director at “Human Rights Watch” says that, “The crisis for women and girls in Afghanistan is escalating with no end in sight. Taliban policies have rapidly turned many women and girls into virtual prisoners in their homes, depriving the country of one of its most precious resources, the skills and talents of the female half of the population.”
Apart from the unnerving sexism demonstrated following the Taliban takeover, women and girls are restricted from education and pursuing a job (source of income). And in some families, women are the only source of income; these particular families cannot support themselves financially. This results in the deprivation of basic and essential materials, including food, water, shelter (a home), healthcare, clothing, etc. In addition to this, women cannot pursue education beyond primary school. Letting this continue is an injustice to women all over the globe.
The ability of Afghan women to make their own decisions has also disappeared. Women can only travel accompanied by a male, they are forced to cover their faces in public, they are to remain in their homes except in an instance of necessity, they cannot choose their clothing, and must abide by many more concerning regulations. Many women have also shared that since the Taliban took over, they have experienced heightened mental health issues such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, fear, and helplessness. Moreover, many years of gender equality advances being erased since the Taliban takeover.
The deprivation of Afghan women's and girls’ rights is inhumane. The women and girls of Afghanistan are suffering and need full support and advocacy from everyone. Educating yourself and taking action to find a solution to this injustice occurring as you read this is critical. It is your paramount responsibility as a human to devote your utmost focus to this pressing emergency.
Works Cited:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/18/afghanistan-taliban-deprive-women-livelihoods-identity