Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, they have systematically marginalized and excluded women from all areas of public life and education with extensive prohibitions. According to numerous reports from international organizations, the group has systematically discriminated against women and girls. Human rights organizations have characterized the Taliban’s treatment of women as a clear case of “gender apartheid” and have called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate. Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has repeatedly unveiled reports of severe punishments and targeted discrimination against women. In a recent UNAMA report, it is stated that 67% of women say recognizing the Taliban exacerbates the crisis of women’s rights and the threat posed by this group. UNAMA has conducted interviews with 745 women in 34 provinces for this report. Women and girls participating in this study have expressed fear of their neighbors and others, stating that anyone in such an environment could be a Taliban member. The report highlights that arbitrary detentions of women and girls bring prolonged shame and embarrassment to families.
UNAMA, on the eve of the Doha meeting hosted by the UN Secretary-General with the presence of special representatives of countries on Afghanistan affairs, has released findings of a study on women in Afghanistan. UNAMA stated that it interviewed 745 women across 34 provinces, with approximately 67% of them warning about the consequences of recognizing the Taliban. Women have told UNAMA that the recognition of this group exacerbates the crisis of women’s rights and the threat posed by the Taliban.
According to UNAMA’s research, 32% of women said that the recognition of the Taliban should be preconditioned with lifting restrictions against women and girls by the group, while 25% said that if 25% of the restrictions against women were lifted, the Taliban should be recognized, but 28% believed that the Taliban should not be recognized under any circumstances.
According to the UN Assistant Mission’s office, the results of another survey in July 2023 showed that 96% of women supported the recognition of the Taliban after the group improved the status of women in Afghanistan.
While, according to the United Nations, the Taliban have issued over 50 restrictive orders against women and girls in Afghanistan over the past two years, directly targeting women’s rights.
Women surveyed by UNAMA have expressed concerns about arbitrary detentions by the Taliban and have stated that leaving home and walking on the streets has become terrifying for them.
However, 57% of women, constituting more than half of the survey participants, have said they are afraid to leave home without a male escort. The report indicates that with each order issued, women’s anxiety levels rise higher and wider.
On the other hand, the research findings of the report indicate that only one percent of women believe they have a “good” or “complete” influence on community-level decisions. UNAMA explicitly states in its report that the level of women’s influence in decision-making at the family level has decreased from 90% in 2023 to 32% in January 2024. Women in the report have suggested to UNAMA that the Taliban should not be recognized without lifting the restrictions they have imposed on women.
According to the report, the Afghan women who participated in this survey have expressed despair at countries engaging with the Taliban without considering the group’s treatment of women.
The crisis of unprecedented women’s rights violations and the breach of international laws, which Afghanistan has signed, have been described as dire. Women participating in the survey have stated that the international community should be accountable for their situation. UNAMA added in its report: “Women strongly expressed their expectation for the international community to listen to their voices. Women’s demand is for women’s rights to be a priority in engaging with the Taliban.”
The report also raises concerns about recent arbitrary detentions by the Taliban in Kabul and some provinces. Women in this report have explained how the enforcement of the Taliban’s compulsory hijab order has increased harassment in public places and restricted women’s mobility. Women have said that their detention by the Taliban has brought long-term shame to their families.
Women participating in the UNAMA report have stated that they currently cannot trust the majority of people, including their neighbors. Besides recognizing the dangers from their neighbors, they said, “Anyone could be a Taliban member.”
Meanwhile, UNAMA has stated in another report that the Taliban’s official justice system for women is unclear, and there is no clear distinction regarding the handling of gender-based violence complaints of a criminal nature and complaints of a civil nature. In last year’s report, the organization stated: “Contrary to the explicit provisions of the law on the prevention of violence against women, there was no clear distinction by the governing authorities between gender-based violence complaints against women and girls with criminal nature and complaints of civil nature. Law enforcement and judiciary officials individually and arbitrarily decided in this regard. This practice does not ensure effective legal protection for women and girls, is inconsistent with international human rights standards, and provides a conducive environment for discriminatory law enforcement.”