RASC News Agency: Afghanistani women activists have voiced sharp criticism of the international community’s indifference to the escalating crisis faced by women in Afghanistan, underscoring the 16-day campaign to end violence against women as a vital platform to highlight their struggles. On Sunday, these activists released a series of videos as part of the campaign, urging global recognition of the ongoing “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan. The women stressed that conditions for Afghanistani women have steadily worsened under Taliban rule, with their rights eroding further each day. In their video appeals, they called on the global community to “break its silence and act decisively to rescue the Afghanistani people from their dire circumstances.” They highlighted the profound social and psychological toll inflicted on women over the past three years, describing it as unprecedented.
The Progressive Forces Movement of Afghanistan issued a statement in support of the campaign, calling for the formal recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan. The movement demanded that Taliban leaders be prosecuted for war crimes and widespread human rights violations, declaring “We demand that the Taliban be brought before an international court. The atrocities they have perpetrated against the Afghanistani people constitute crimes against humanity. As victims of this oppressive regime, we call on the regional and global communities to stand in solidarity with the people and women of Afghanistan.”
Similarly, the Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network, in its statement marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, expressed hope that the occasion would draw global attention to the catastrophic challenges faced by Afghanistani women. The statement read “The condition of women and girls has become increasingly critical in recent years, especially following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.” The network emphasized that Afghanistani women are enduring escalating violence, systemic social humiliation, and severe legal injustices. The current environment has also led to a surge in domestic violence, leaving women without legal or social mechanisms to ensure their safety.
The network further warned of a disturbing rise in suicide rates among young women and girls, describing it as a grave societal concern. It called on the international community to maintain unwavering focus on the plight of Afghanistani women and girls and to take immediate action to prevent further human rights violations. In its appeal, the network urged global powers to increase pressure on the Taliban to acknowledge the rights of women and girls and to halt the ongoing erosion of those rights.
