Standing Strong with Afghan Women

Periods of transition are a crucial moment to secure progress made in women’s rights and prevent a roll back of protections. In 2014, Afghanistan peacefully elected a new government led by President Ashraf Ghani who made many commitments to his country-women to support their rights. At the end of 2014, international troops drew down their forces and 2015 can be seen as a year in transition to an independent and autonomous Afghanistan. 

For women’s rights, the gains made post-Taliban proved to be as fragile as suspected. Although women are crucial actors in building peace in Afghanistan and despite two meetings with Taliban leaders in May and June, no women’s representatives were present at the Government-Taliban meeting in Pakistan in July, which was described as the first formal peace meeting.

Across Afghanistan, women and girls continue to be forced into marriages and face brutality (including stoning) for ‘disobeying’ husbands, male relatives or wider discriminatory norms. The brutal murder of Farkhunda, a 27 year old religious teacher, by a mob in Kabul in March 2015 was met with international condemnation, sparked by the filming of the attack which showed police making no effort to intervene.

For the first time, at Farkhunda’s funeral, women were pallbearers of a coffin and led with one of the biggest demonstrations in Kabul’s history with 3,000 women and men taking to the streets to demand justice. The investigation and trial received criticism for being rushed, a media-show and some of the accused made allegations of torture for forced confessions. The Afghan Women’s Network, and other civil society organisations, continue to call for a thorough investigation and fair trial into Farkhunda’s murder.

However, ongoing insecurity, including the temporary capture of Kunduz in Northern Afghanistan by the Taliban, continues to overwhelmingly affect women who are targeted for human rights violations. It was reported that the Taliban roam the streets of Kunduz with lists of women government employees and women activists trying to locate their offices and homes. Reports of rape and murder of women nurses in Kunduz emerged as did attacks on civilians fleeing the city.

Winters in Afghanistan tend to be a time of low insecurity, but this winter shows no let up with suicide bombs and Taliban resurgence. Women’s rights activists continue to be key targets, including attacks against progressive media organisations, and continue to be excluded from peace talks. Things are getting worse.

Women for Women International is committed to supporting the women we work with and amplifying their voices. We’ve worked with around 48,000 marginalised women in Afghanistan since 2002 and we stand strong with our support to them and ensuring that their voices continue to be heard. To help raise awareness and to highlight some of the lessons from our work over the last fourteen years, we will be joined next week by Mandana Hendessi, WfWI - Afghanistan Country Director, for a week of activities focusing on women's rights in Afghanistan. 

You can follow the series of events focusing on Afghanistan on social media using #AfghanistanWeek or register for a free online Q&A with Mandana Hendessi.