RASC News Agency: During the inaugural day of a three-day conference held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, Afghanistani women leaders called for an urgent global recognition and cessation of the ongoing “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan. Fawzia Koofi, one of the principal organizers of the summit, urged the international community to formally acknowledge this systemic oppression enforced by the Taliban. The conference, organized by the “Women for Afghanistan” initiative on Wednesday, September 11, addressed a range of issues, including the political marginalization of Afghanistani women under the Taliban regime.
Participants unanimously demanded the immediate end to gender apartheid, chanting slogans such as “Stop Supporting Taliban.” They urged the international community, particularly the United States, to cease all forms of engagement with the Taliban and officially recognize the institutionalized gender oppression in Afghanistan. Several women at the event described the dire state of Afghanistan under Taliban control, calling it a hostile environment for women. They condemned the Taliban’s ongoing campaign of misogyny and the systematic subjugation of women, stating that the oppression has intensified under their governance.
Fawzia Koofi, a former member of Afghanistan’s Parliament and a key figure in organizing the conference, highlighted that the event was conceived to provide a platform for Afghanistani women to collectively strategize and envision their future. She emphasized the need for collaborative thinking in shaping the direction of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Koofi further stated that the three-day conference would serve as a critical opportunity for women to articulate their most pressing concerns and craft a roadmap for addressing them.
Other participants echoed these sentiments, expressing optimism that the discussions would yield tangible outcomes and strengthen the fight for women’s rights. The conference comes in the wake of the Taliban’s repressive rule, which has seen Afghanistani women stripped of basic rights, including education and employment. Despite numerous protests, Afghanistani women continue to face brutal crackdowns as they demand the restoration of their fundamental rights.
