The Right To Vote: Afghanistan's Women Speak Out

Women in Afghanistan have had the right to vote since 1919, a full year before women in the United States. However, the country's tumultuous political history has meant that women's rights have often been exploited by different groups for political gain. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women have been subjected to severe restrictions on their freedoms. They are banned from travelling more than 70km without a male chaperone and are required to wear face coverings in public. They are also prohibited from working in most sectors outside of health and education and are barred from studying in secondary schools and universities.

Women's rights in Afghanistan have changed over time and with different regimes in power

Women's rights in Afghanistan have changed significantly over time and with different regimes in power.

Pre-1979

Before 1979, women in Afghanistan enjoyed a level of freedom comparable to women in other countries. They gained the right to vote in 1919, a year before women in the United States. Women's rights continued to expand through the 1960s and 1970s, with greater equality emphasised in the Afghan constitution.

1979-1992

In 1978, the president was killed in a Communist coup, and the Soviets invaded in 1979. Religious extremist groups gained greater control of the country, and women's freedoms were restricted.

1992-1996

During this period, the government transitioned to the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Women's freedoms were restricted, with a ban on alcohol and the enforcement of a veil for women.

1996-2001

The Taliban first emerged in 1994 and seized control of Afghanistan in 1996, rolling back freedoms for women. They imposed strict rules, including barring women and girls from attending school, working, leaving the house without a male chaperone, and speaking publicly. Women were also subjected to violence and human rights abuses.

2001-2021

The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001, and women's rights gradually improved under the presidential Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The 2004 constitution enshrined gender equality, and women's rights were expanded. Girls attended school, women had jobs, and women were elected to political offices.

2021-present

The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, and women's rights have once again been restricted. Women have been banned from attending schools and universities, working in certain sectors, appearing in public without a male chaperone, and travelling without a close male relative. They have also been subjected to strict dress codes and are barred from many public spaces.

The Taliban's impact on women's rights

Denial of Education and Employment

During their first rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban imposed strict limits on women's access to education and employment. Girls were banned from attending school after the age of eight, and women were barred from working outside the home. This effectively erased decades of progress and left women with limited opportunities for personal growth and financial independence.

Restriction on Movement and Public Life

The Taliban enforces a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which severely limits women's freedom of movement and participation in public life. Women are not allowed to leave their homes without a male chaperone and must wear full-body coverings (burqas) when in public. They are banned from travelling more than 40-70 miles without a close male relative. These restrictions have made women virtually invisible in public life, imprisoned in their homes.

Discrimination and Violence

Under the Taliban regime, women and girls face widespread discrimination and violence. They are denied basic human rights, including access to healthcare, education, and political participation. Men are allowed to commit domestic violence and even kill their female family members with impunity. Women who are victims of rape and other forms of violence often end up being accused of 'moral crimes' and risk being stoned to death as punishment.

International Reaction and Efforts

The international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, have strongly condemned the Taliban's treatment of women. There have been calls for world leaders to put pressure on the Taliban through sanctions and travel bans. However, the effectiveness of these efforts has been limited, and the Taliban has largely been unresponsive to international criticism.

Current Situation

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have reimposed many of the restrictive policies from their previous rule. Women and girls are once again facing severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms. They are banned from attending secondary school and university, working in most sectors outside of health and education, and participating in public life. The hard-fought gains in equality and human rights for Afghan women over the past two decades are being steadily dismantled.

Women's suffrage in Afghanistan

However, the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent rise of religious extremist groups led to increasing restrictions on women's freedom. The Mujahideen, who fought against the Soviets, were from conservative, tribal areas with distinct gender roles, and they opposed women's rights.

The Taliban, an ultra-conservative Islamist group, seized power in 1996 and imposed strict Sharia law, severely curtailing women's rights. Women were barred from attending school, working, leaving the house without a male chaperone, or speaking publicly. They were forced to wear full-body coverings (burqas) and were virtually invisible in public life.

After the Taliban was ousted from power in 2001 following the US-led invasion, women's rights slowly improved. They were enshrined in the new constitution in 2003, and in 2004, women voted in Afghanistan's first multi-party elections in twenty years. Women's rights activists campaigned for women's participation in the elections, and about 41% of registered voters were women.

However, women's participation in the electoral process was hindered by security threats, violence, and intimidation from local warlords and the Taliban. Despite these challenges, women turned out in record numbers to vote and run for office in the 2014 elections.

Unfortunately, the gains made during this period were short-lived. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and imposed severe restrictions on women once again. They have been excluded from public office, banned from working in most sectors, and barred from attending secondary school and university. Women's rights activists continue to fight for equality and their safety, but their future remains uncertain under the Taliban regime.

The current situation for women in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan have experienced a tumultuous history, with their rights and freedoms fluctuating depending on the ruling regime. The current situation for women in Afghanistan is dire, with the Taliban's return to power in August 2021 resulting in the rollback of hard-fought gains in equality and human rights. Here is an overview of the current situation:

Education: The Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on girls' and women's access to education. Girls have been banned from attending secondary school, and women have been barred from tertiary education. Universities have been segregated by gender, with women only allowed to be taught by other women or elderly men. In March 2022, just hours after schools reopened following the Taliban's takeover, the government cancelled classes for teenage girls indefinitely.

Employment: Women have been banned from working in most sectors outside of health and education. In April 2023, the Taliban extended the ban to include working for the United Nations, further limiting women's participation in the workforce. Women-run beauty salons were ordered to shut down by the government in July 2023.

Mobility and Public Spaces: Women are barred from travelling more than 70 kilometres without a close male relative. They are also severely restricted from accessing public spaces, including parks, gyms, and sports clubs. In November 2022, the Taliban claimed that these spaces had to be closed due to violations of their rules on gender segregation and face coverings.

Dress Code: Women are mandated to wear face coverings in public, revealing only their eyes. In May 2022, the Taliban imposed a strict dress code, requiring women to cover themselves from head to toe when outside their homes, including wearing a mesh covering over their faces.

Political Participation: Women have been wholly excluded from public office and the judiciary under the Taliban's rule. The Ministry for Women's Affairs has been abolished, and no women have been appointed to the cabinet or as deputy ministers.

Human Rights Violations: Women in Afghanistan are facing severe human rights violations, with restrictions imposed on their freedom of movement, education, and employment. They are denied their fundamental rights, including the rights to education, work, health, freedom of movement, and freedom from fear, want, and discrimination. Women report feeling invisible, isolated, and suffocated, living in prison-like conditions.

Violence: The Taliban have employed violent tactics to quash dissent and break up protests, resulting in both injuries and fatalities. Women who protested the Taliban's announcements were met with violence by Taliban security forces.

International Response: The international community has not recognised the Taliban's interim government, linking recognition to respect for women's and minority rights. The United Nations and other international organisations have sharply criticised the Taliban's decisions, particularly regarding the restrictions on women's access to education and employment.

The future of women's rights in Afghanistan

Current Situation:

Under the Taliban's rule, Afghan women and girls have faced numerous restrictions on their rights and freedoms. They have been banned from secondary and tertiary education, working in most sectors outside of health and education, travelling more than 70 kilometres without a male relative, and appearing in public spaces such as parks and gyms. The Taliban has also imposed a strict dress code, requiring women to wear full-body coverings or burqas that reveal only their eyes. Additionally, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, which was established to protect and promote women's rights, has been abolished.

Future Prospects:

The Taliban's negotiating team and governing structures do not include any women, and they have been unresponsive to suggestions to include female representation. Their actions indicate a continued marginalization of women and a potential regression of their rights. The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law, which they use to justify their policies, can lead to varying levels of restriction on women's rights, from moderate to extreme.

International Community's Role:

The international community has a crucial role to play in promoting and protecting women's rights in Afghanistan. The United States, despite its reduced military presence, should maintain a strong policy focus on women's rights and use its leverage to influence intra-Taliban negotiations. Setting minimal standards for women's rights and conditioning economic aid on their fulfilment can be a powerful tool. The international community should also provide asylum and support to women's rights defenders who are targeted for their activism.

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