Afghan Taliban regime refused an offer to attend an international conference regarding girls’ schooling held in Pakistan.
This incident is in keeping with the new regime’s relentless punitive policies that target women and girls in the country.
In past, Afghanistan was severely attacked for not attending the conference intended to help generate discussion on increasing access to school among girls.
Anti-women policies
The internationally acknowledged human rights groups have criticized Afghan Taliban for their reactionary and anti-women stance.
A powerful activist, Farzana Bari, described the situation in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid.” She said that the Taliban leadership demonstratively destroyed women’s rights. Still, Bari praised Afghan women for their strength and spirit to fight for their rights.
The brutal reality Afghan women face on daily basis was shed by another activist, Banish Javed. According to her, it was a crime to be a girl in Afghanistan.
She pointed out the numerous restrictions imposed on women, including banning women from working, schooling, and even rights like having windows in their houses.
According to critics, the Taliban’s heinous human rights abuses are masked behind religious justifications.
The chronic denial of employment and education for women has proved to be disastrous for Afghan society.
In addition, such policies have further worsened healthcare issues by denying women access to vital medical treatment.
Women’s health is not considered a priority, Bari said, which has worsened the already grim humanitarian situation.
The international community is increasingly condemning the acts of the Taliban, which the Taliban continues to justify as being part of its interpretation of the Islamic precepts.
Activists and human rights organizations are therefore calling on the international community to continue exerting pressure on the Taliban.
Afghan women and girls, they highlight, need protecting their fundamental human rights.
This downed conference invitation represents a huge lost opportunity. It may result in providing a platform through which productive discussion could be initiated.
Moreover, it could serve as a place to address the issues haunting Afghan women and girls.
