The Shifting Sands Of Women's Rights In Afghanistan: A Historical Perspective

Women's rights in Afghanistan have changed drastically over time, with the country's various political shifts impacting the freedoms and opportunities available to women.

Historically, Afghan women have experienced periods of relative freedom, such as under King Amanullah Khan in the 1920s, when they gained equality under the 1964 Constitution. However, these rights were often fleeting, as different rulers and regimes imposed restrictions on women's civil liberties and human rights.

The Taliban's first regime, from 1996 to 2001, was particularly oppressive for women. They were barred from education, employment, and public life, forced to cover themselves from head to toe, and subjected to harsh punishments for any perceived violations.

After the Taliban's initial ousting in 2001, Afghan women made significant progress. They gained access to education, jobs, and political participation, with their rights enshrined in the new constitution. However, this progress was short-lived, as the Taliban regained control in 2021 and imposed even stricter restrictions on women's rights and freedoms.

Today, Afghan women face severe limitations on their education, employment, and mobility, with hard-fought gains in equality and human rights steadily being dismantled. The international community's response to this rollback has been mixed, with some calling for stronger action to protect and promote women's rights in Afghanistan.

Women's rights under the Taliban (1996-2001)

From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban imposed a strict set of rules on women and girls in Afghanistan, severely restricting their rights and freedoms. During this period, the Taliban enforced their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which resulted in widespread discrimination and human rights abuses. Here is an overview of the conditions faced by Afghan women during this time:

Education and Employment:

The Taliban banned girls and women from receiving an education beyond the age of eight. Girls' schools were closed, and women were expelled from universities. Those who sought an education did so in underground schools, risking execution if discovered. The Taliban also banned women from working, with the exception of a small number of female doctors and nurses. This loss of female educators and healthcare workers had a significant impact on society.

Mobility and Public Presence:

Women were not allowed to leave their homes unless accompanied by a male chaperone or relative. They were forced to wear the burqa, a full-body veil, in public. Windows at ground and first-floor levels were covered so women could not be seen from the street. Women were prohibited from riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with male relatives, and segregated bus services were introduced. Their presence was banned on radio, television, and at public gatherings.

Healthcare:

Women were not allowed to be treated by male doctors unless accompanied by a male chaperone. With few female healthcare professionals, illnesses often went untreated. Female doctors and nurses were also prohibited from working, further limiting access to healthcare.

Violence and Legal Rights:

Women faced public flogging and execution for violating Taliban laws. Men could commit acts of domestic violence and even murder their female family members with impunity. Women who suffered rape or abuse could be accused of 'moral crimes' and risked being stoned to death as punishment.

Daily Life:

The Taliban imposed strict rules on women's dress and behaviour. Women were not allowed to wear high-heeled shoes, laugh loudly, or speak loudly in public. They were prohibited from accessing public baths, an important facility for hygiene, and their presence in public spaces was severely restricted.

The treatment of women by the Taliban during this period has been described as 'gender apartheid', with women facing systematic segregation and discrimination in all aspects of their lives. The international community widely condemned the Taliban's actions, and their impact on women's rights was a justification for the US-led military intervention in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Women's rights after the Taliban were ousted (2001-2021)

Between 2001 and 2021, when the Taliban were ousted from power, women's rights in Afghanistan improved. Girls were allowed to attend school, women were permitted to work, and the government enshrined women's rights in the constitution.

During this time, women's rights activists in Afghanistan campaigned for their rights and made some gains. However, the issue of women's rights was also exploited by different groups for political gain. Despite progress, discrimination against women continued to be rife in society.

In 2011, Afghanistan was named 'the most dangerous country' to be a woman. In 2013, a female Indian author, Sushmita Banerjee, was killed in Paktika province by militants for allegedly defying Taliban diktats.

In 2014, women made up 16.1% of the labor force in Afghanistan. Women were also allowed to drive vehicles and participate in certain international events, such as the Olympic Games and robot competitions.

In 2015, the World Health Organization reported that 90% of women in Afghanistan had experienced at least one form of domestic violence.

In 2017, the Times noted that the country had slowly but steadily liberalized over the years, helped by the more progressive politics of President Ashraf Ghani.

In 2020, Afghanistan secured a seat on the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women for the first time.

However, despite these improvements, many women in Afghanistan still faced significant challenges and restrictions on their rights. For example, in 2020, the U.S. imposed additional visa restrictions on Taliban members, and in 2021, the Taliban regained control of the country and imposed severe restrictions on women's rights.

Women's rights under the Taliban (2021-present)

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the rights of women and girls have been severely restricted. The Taliban have barred women from universities and many workplaces, causing several aid organisations to pause operations in Afghanistan and donors to contemplate cuts to assistance. The Taliban's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, appears to be personally convinced of these measures and seeks to assert his authority over the country.

Afghan women and girls have been banned from secondary school and tertiary education. They have also been banned from entering amusement parks, public baths, gyms, and sports clubs. Women have been prohibited from working in NGO offices, and from appearing in public alone or travelling long distances without a male chaperone. They are required to adhere to a strict dress code and are compelled to stay at home.

The Taliban have imposed new restrictions on women's dress and conduct, which affect every aspect of their lives, including their career options. Women can only become teachers or nurses, and even these jobs come with many conditions. For example, women are instructed to speak to male personnel in an insolent and angry tone. They are also required to wear a burqa and a long dress, which makes it hard to perform certain tasks, such as running in emergencies.

The Taliban have also dismantled systems that assisted women facing gender-based violence. Previously, women could turn to the Provincial Department of Women's Affairs for help, but after the Taliban closed the ministry, they turned over the Kabul headquarters to the reinstated Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which monitors residents' behaviour.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's access to technology also limit their access to information, including health information. Women are asked not to carry smartphones and to keep simple Nokia phones instead.

The financial crisis following the Taliban takeover has also disproportionately affected women. Most women interviewed who previously had paid employment had lost their jobs. Those still working have largely not been paid because healthcare and education were almost entirely financed by foreign donors, whose aid has been cut off.

Overall, the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan have had a devastating impact on the lives of women and girls, erasing decades of progress on gender equality and women's rights in mere months.

The international community's response to the Taliban's treatment of women

The international community has responded to the Taliban's treatment of women in Afghanistan in several ways, with calls for action from human rights organisations, the United Nations, and government officials. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Human Rights Organisations

Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists have called for the Taliban's treatment of women and girls to be investigated as a crime against humanity, specifically as gender persecution. They argue that the Taliban's severe restrictions and unlawful crackdown on the rights of women and girls, including imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture, and other ill-treatment, violate international law. They urge prosecutors of the International Criminal Court to include gender persecution in their investigation into the situation in Afghanistan. Furthermore, they call on states to exercise universal jurisdiction or other lawful means to bring Taliban members suspected of committing these crimes to justice.

United Nations (UN)

UN experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, have characterised the Taliban's actions as "gender apartheid," stating that they impose widespread restrictions on women's and girls' rights, including freedom of movement, attire, behaviour, access to education, work, health, and justice. They also highlight the mental health impact of these restrictions, particularly on adolescent girls, with widespread reports of depression and suicide. The UN experts call on the international community to demand the reversal of restrictions, ensure respect and protection of women's rights in all discussions with the Taliban, and increase support for Afghan human rights defenders, especially women and girls.

Government Officials

Government officials from various countries have also voiced their concerns and advocated for the protection of women's rights in Afghanistan. In September 2021, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that a ban on women's education in Afghanistan would be un-Islamic, calling for inclusive leadership and respect for human rights. In the same month, the G7 released a statement, asserting that the Taliban would be held accountable for their actions regarding human rights, including those of women and girls, and that the legitimacy of any future government depends on their approach to these issues. Additionally, in December 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, appointed Rina Amiri as a special envoy for Afghan women, girls, and human rights, recognising the increased oppression faced by women under Taliban rule.

The impact of the Taliban's rule on women's political participation

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have imposed severe restrictions on women's rights, including their political participation. The Taliban's treatment of women has been described as "gender apartheid", with women being denied access to education, employment, healthcare, and public spaces.

Education

The Taliban have banned girls from attending secondary school and university, with the exception of some provinces that still allow secondary education for girls. They have also imposed strict rules on female students, including gender-segregated classrooms, mandatory head coverings, and restrictions on the subjects that can be taught.

Employment

The Taliban have prohibited women from working in most sectors, with the exception of health and education. They have also banned women from working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which has disrupted the delivery of humanitarian aid and severely limited women's economic opportunities.

Public Spaces

Women have been banned from entering amusement parks, public baths, gyms, and sports clubs. They are also restricted from travelling more than 45 miles without a close male relative and are required to wear face coverings in public.

Political Participation

The Taliban have excluded women from public office and the judiciary. They have also cracked down on women's rights activists and journalists, with many forced to flee the country or go into hiding.

Frequently asked questions