Heather Barr, senior women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, has criticized the approach taken by Western governments during negotiations with the Taliban.
Barr wrote on her official X account on Friday, August 15, that the Taliban are now advancing their extremist vision for Afghan society through policies she describes as “gender apartheid.”
She said that while Western countries presented women’s rights as one of their major achievements and symbols of success in Afghanistan, Afghan women were excluded from participating and having representatives at the negotiating table during the talks that ultimately led to the Taliban’s return to power.
Her remarks come as the Taliban’s widespread restrictions on Afghan women and girls, including in education, employment, freedom of movement, and social and political participation, have faced widespread international criticism.
