The head of the U.N. agency dedicated to advancing gender equality has called upon the United Nations’ most influential body to support governments aiming to legally categorize the escalating oppression of women and girls by Afghanistan’s Taliban regime as “gender apartheid.”
Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, highlighting that over 50 increasingly severe Taliban directives are being enforced with growing rigor, including by male family members. This situation is exacerbating mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, particularly among young women, while also diminishing women’s decision-making power even within their own homes.
Bahous conveyed the heartbreaking testimonies of Afghan women, who described their lives as being trapped in darkness, confined to their homes without hope or a future.
Apartheid, under international law, refers to a system of legalized racial segregation that originated in South Africa. However, there is a growing consensus among experts, officials, and activists that the concept of apartheid can extend to gender discrimination, as seen in Afghanistan, where women and girls face systematic oppression.
“We ask you to lend your full support to an intergovernmental process to explicitly codify gender apartheid in international law,” Bahous urged the Security Council, which comprises 15 members, including the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France.
Bahous emphasized that there is currently no existing international law to address “mass, state-sponsored gender oppression.” Still, she argued that the Taliban’s systematic assault on women’s rights necessitates naming, defining, and prohibiting such actions in global norms to enable appropriate responses.
The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew after two decades of conflict. Similar to their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban have been progressively reinstating their strict interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia). This has involved banning girls from school beyond the sixth grade, restricting women from most professions, public spaces, gyms, and recently closing beauty salons.
The Security Council discussion regarding U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ latest Afghanistan report occurred on the final day of the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, where no country has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government. The assembly’s credentials committee has also refrained from doing so, mainly due to the Taliban’s attempts to confine women to their homes and their failure to form an inclusive government. Consequently, the ousted previous government led by Ashraf Ghani continues to hold U.N. recognition.
Bahous disclosed that UN Women collaborated with the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, and the U.N. International Office for Migration to interview over 500 Afghan women over the past year. Key findings included:
– 46% believe the Taliban should not be recognized under any circumstances.
– 50% believe recognition of the Taliban should only occur after they restore women’s and girls’ rights to education, employment, and participation in government.
Bahous attributed the dramatic decline in women’s influence over decision-making, not just at the national or provincial levels but also within their communities and homes, to increased poverty, reduced financial contributions, and the Taliban’s imposition of hyper-patriarchal gender norms.
In a troubling sign of women’s growing isolation, only 22% of the women interviewed reported meeting with women outside their immediate family at least once a week, and a majority reported strained relationships with other family and community members.
The restrictions imposed on women have led to an upsurge in child marriage and child labor and a rise in mental health issues. Bahous emphasized that as women’s employment rates continue to plummet, 90% of young women respondents reported poor or very poor mental health, with suicide and suicidal thoughts becoming increasingly prevalent.
Roza Otunbayeva, the U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, welcomed the recent visit of Islamic scholars from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s member nations to Afghanistan. The scholars focused on girls’ education, women’s rights, and the necessity of inclusive governance. These requirements, according to Otunbayeva, are integral to Islamic governance worldwide. She urged the continuation of such visits, which are mediating essential dialogue between the de facto Taliban authorities and the international community.
Responding to questions about the potential for change in the Taliban’s strict policies on women and government as long as Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, makes the final decisions, Otunbayeva noted that he holds significant sway over decisions. While some Cabinet members support allowing girls to study, such views are often blocked when they reach Kandahar, where Akhundzada is based.
Regarding the Taliban leader, Otunbayeva said he is currently unreachable, despite efforts to arrange meetings with the provincial governor and others. She added that provincial councils comprising religious clerics and tribal elders have been established in each of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to provide accountability and address local grievances. However, they also report to Akhundzada. Otunbayeva appealed to donors to support the $3.2 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan, which has received only $872 million, approximately 28% of the required funding. The lack of resources has forced many programs to close, particularly as winter approaches, potentially pushing 15.2 million Afghans facing acute food insecurity toward famine in the coming months.
