The Evolution Of Women's Rights In Afghanistan: A Complex Journey

Women's rights in Afghanistan have fluctuated over the years, depending on the ruling regime. After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, they imposed severe restrictions on women, limiting their freedom of movement, enforcing strict dress codes, and barring them from most workplaces and educational institutions. Despite initial promises to respect women's rights within the framework of Sharia law, the Taliban issued decrees that contradicted these commitments. The situation for women in Afghanistan is now comparable to the pre-2002 era, with limited access to education, employment, and public life.

Women's rights to education

During the Taliban's first regime (1996-2001), women had very little to no freedom, especially in terms of civil liberties. The Taliban imposed severe restrictions on women, including limiting their access to healthcare, education and jobs. Women were prohibited from appearing in public spaces without a male chaperone and were forced to wear face coverings in public.

Under the Taliban, women were denied formal education and were usually forced to stay at home. The Taliban's harsh regulations and persecution of women since taking over Afghanistan in September 1996 have left them terrified, impoverished, deprived of access to education and healthcare, and emotionally or physically sick.

After the Taliban was overthrown by the United States following the 9/11 attacks, women's rights gradually improved under the presidential Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The post-Taliban constitution in 2004 gave Afghan women all kinds of rights, and the post-Taliban political dispensation brought social and economic growth that significantly improved their socioeconomic condition.

In 2003, fewer than 10% of girls were enrolled in primary schools; by 2017, that number had grown to 33%. Female enrollment in secondary education grew from 6% in 2003 to 39% in 2017. Thus, 3.5 million Afghan girls were in school, with 100,000 studying in universities.

After the Taliban seized power again in August 2021, it imposed severe restrictions on women, including barring them from traveling more than 70 kilometres without a close male relative and mandating that they wear face coverings in public. The Taliban has also restricted women from working in most sectors outside of health and education and banned them from studying in secondary schools and universities.

In some areas, the Taliban has forced women to stop working altogether. The Taliban's policy on women's right to work is unclear, with Taliban deputy prime minister Abdul Salam Hanafi stating that they are "trying to provide working conditions for women in the sector where they are needed, according to Islamic law".

Education in lower grades has resumed only in classes segregated by gender. In higher grades (7 through 12) and at the university level, classes for girls and women have been suspended. The Taliban cited security concerns as the reason for these measures, but did not specify under which conditions girls would be allowed to return to school.

The Taliban's interim government does not include any women as ministers or deputy ministers, and the Ministry of Women's Affairs has been abolished.

Women's rights to employment

Historical Context

Afghan women's rights to employment have changed drastically over the last century, depending on the time period and regime in power. In the 1940s and 1950s, Afghan women began to find employment as nurses, doctors, and teachers. This trend continued into the 1970s, with women also working in universities, private corporations, and airline companies.

Taliban Rule

During the Taliban's first regime (1996-2001), women were forbidden from working in most sectors outside of health and education. They were also prohibited from working in aid agencies, except in the healthcare sector. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has resulted in similar restrictions on women's employment. Women have been banned from working in NGO offices and, as of April 2023, are no longer allowed to work for the UN. They are also prohibited from working together with male colleagues and are not allowed to leave their homes without a male chaperone, further limiting their employment opportunities.

Impact on Women

The restrictions on women's employment have pushed many families deeper into poverty. Women who were previously breadwinners are now unable to provide for themselves and their families. Afghan women have repeatedly held demonstrations demanding their right to work, even in the face of brutality and violence from the Taliban regime.

International Response

The international community has expressed concern over the Taliban's restrictions on women's employment and has called for the protection of women's rights. However, the effectiveness of their response remains to be seen.

Women's rights to healthcare

Pre-2021

Even before the Taliban's return to power, women in Afghanistan had poor access to healthcare. A 2021 report by Human Rights Watch stated that women often struggled to access even the most basic care, such as contraception, prenatal care, and safe birthing services. The report also highlighted that specialty care, such as cancer treatment, was largely non-existent.

The lack of access to adequate healthcare has been attributed to several factors, including:

• Insecurity and fighting due to the war in Afghanistan, which creates major barriers to women accessing healthcare.
• A lack of funding, with Afghanistan relying heavily on international donor support to fund essential services like healthcare. A decline in funding has had a detrimental impact on the lives of Afghan women, affecting their access to healthcare.
• Distance from healthcare facilities, with almost 10% of people unable to reach a health facility within 2 hours and 43% having to travel more than half an hour.
• Corruption, with demands for bribes further deterring women from seeking healthcare.

Post-2021

Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the situation regarding women's rights to healthcare has deteriorated. The Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women, including limiting their access to education and work. Women are barred from traveling more than 70 kilometres without a close male relative and are mandated to wear face coverings in public.

The Taliban's policies have had a significant impact on women's access to healthcare. For example:

• Women working in the healthcare sector have faced restrictions and, in some cases, have been prevented from working.
• The Taliban has banned women from working in national and international aid groups, further limiting their access to healthcare.
• The Taliban's policies on gender segregation and the confinement of women to their homes have made it difficult for women to access healthcare facilities.
• The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law, which governs women's rights and freedoms, has been used to justify restrictions on women's access to healthcare.

Despite the challenging situation, there have been some efforts to support women's rights to healthcare in Afghanistan. For instance, some women's rights activists and organisations continue to operate and provide assistance to women, despite facing serious threats. Additionally, the international community has provided some support, although it has been limited due to concerns over the Taliban's policies and the unstable political situation.

Women's rights to freedom of movement

Women's rights in Afghanistan have changed drastically over the last century, with the country's various regimes holding vastly different views on the freedoms that women should be afforded.

Women's Freedom of Movement in Afghanistan

Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, women have been barred from travelling more than 70 kilometres (40 miles) without a close male relative. This has severely impacted their ability to work, as they are also required to be accompanied by a male relative on their journey to work.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's freedom of movement have been enforced with violence and the threat of imprisonment. Women who flout the rules on travelling or dress codes are punished by having their male relatives imprisoned.

Women's freedom of movement has been restricted in Afghanistan before. During the first Taliban regime (1996-2001), women were not allowed to leave their homes without a male family member and were forced to paint their windows so that no one could see in or out.

Historical Context

Afghan women's rights have oscillated back and forth depending on the time period and regime in power.

In the 1920s, King Amanullah Khan attempted to modernise the country and promote freedom for women in the public sphere. He encouraged female education and western dress, and his wife, Queen Soraya, founded the country's first women's magazine, school, theatre and hospital. However, this period of reform was short-lived, and when King Amanullah Khan was deposed in 1929, his successor reinstated the veil and rolled back women's rights.

In the 1970s, the Afghan government raised the marriage age for women from 18 to 21, abolished polygamy and introduced compulsory education.

In the 1990s, women's rights were stripped away by different temporary rulers, including the Mujahideen and the Taliban.

After the Taliban was overthrown by the US following the 9/11 attacks, women's rights gradually improved under the presidential Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The 2004 constitution granted women equal rights to men.

However, since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, severe restrictions have been placed on women's access to education and work, and they have been excluded from public office and the judiciary.

Women's rights to protection from violence

Under the Taliban regime, women have little to no protection from violence. The Ministry of Women's Affairs, which was responsible for protecting women's rights, has been abolished. Women's rights activists, who played a crucial role in providing support and safe houses for survivors of gender-based violence, now face serious threats, detention, and violence. The Taliban has also released prisoners with a history of committing acts of gender-based violence, further endangering women's safety.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's education and employment have left them particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. With limited access to education and economic opportunities, women and girls are at an increased risk of forced marriage, child marriage, and human trafficking. The Taliban has been accused of forcing families to give up their unmarried daughters as brides and of engaging in human trafficking, abducting women, and selling them into forced prostitution and slavery.

Moreover, the Taliban's strict gender segregation and restrictions on women's mobility have made it difficult for women to access support services and justice. The few support systems that existed for survivors of gender-based violence have largely collapsed, and those who provide assistance often face threats and are forced to work undercover. The lack of access to justice and the Taliban's failure to hold perpetrators accountable have contributed to a culture of impunity, where acts of violence against women go unpunished.

The situation is particularly dire for women from ethnic minority groups, such as the Hazara. They face multiple forms of discrimination and violence, including beatings and attacks, specifically targeting women and girls from these communities.

Despite the Taliban's claims to respect women's rights, their actions indicate a disregard for women's safety and well-being. The international community has a responsibility to hold the Taliban accountable and ensure that the rights and protection of Afghan women are upheld.

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