U1.1 million women excluded from secondary education, 1095 civilians killed, 43% of press outlets closed, 2374 journalists ousted from their jobs. These are the chilling numbers of Afghanistan todaya country where since 15 August 2021, the date on which the Taliban regained power, a new phase of violence began, which sees human rights under attack on all fronts.
Amnesty InternationalHowever, unlike the media attention, it never stops documenting and reporting crimes against the Afghan population. And it continues to loudly ask the international community for all the support it can defend the right of those women and men to live in freedom, dignity and equality.
Amnesty International is not abandoning Afghanistan
«The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power on 15 August 2021 it is extremely critical and worrying” – he explains Alba Bonetti, President of Amnesty International Italy. «The Taliban are systematically violating their rights to education, work and freedom of movement. Furthermore, they are eliminating the protection system for women victims of domestic violencearresting women and girls for minimal violations of discriminatory laws and contributing to the increase in child, early and forced marriages.”
«Amnesty International has repeatedly urged the Taliban to change their policies, underlining the urgent need for a strong and coordinated international strategy to persuade them to respect the rights of women and girls. The international community must act urgently to stop this repression and ensure freedom, dignity and equality for the Afghan people. It is also necessary to activate international justice: the investigation by the prosecutor’s office of the International Criminal Court is progressing slowly. We ask that you also address the crime against humanity of gender persecution against Afghan women and girls».
Alba Bonetti, President of Amnesty International and always close to the Afghan people.
The noise of women against abuse
From Iran to Afghanistan, women, however, are no longer silent. They take to the streets at the cost of their lives. What has changed?
Women are taking to the streets with great strength and determination, sometimes putting their lives at risk. It is a clear message that tells us how determined they are to defend their rights, which are under attack globally. This change can be attributed to growing awareness, facilitated by modern media and advances in feminist movements, which have inspired a sense of solidarity and empowerment among women globally. The will to challenge injustices and fight for equality is becoming increasingly evident, underlining profound social change and a growing commitment to the defense of women’s rights.
There is a lot of talk, but little action
Amnesty International is alongside the population every day and constantly asks the international community for the support it can to defend women’s rights, and the rights of all. What answers do you get?
Few. We are witnessing enormous rhetoric about human rights: there is a lot of talk about it, but nothing is done. We are about to remember the 75 years that have passed since the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, although the progress made by humanity is undoubted when seen from a temporal lens of decades, today the world is shocked by human rights crises and humanitarian crises, by wars and the threat posed by climate change. There is an absence of leadership in the field of human rights that worries us, together with double standards and policies – think of those on asylum and immigration – that close doors: even to Afghan women and men abandoned in their country or left to their own devices, with the threat of repatriation, in Pakistan.
Remove the study to keep submissive
A fight that you carry on tirelessly is that of the right to education for girls and young women. Why are the Taliban so afraid of letting women study?
The ban on Afghan girls over the age of 12 from attending schools, combined with severe restrictions on gender segregation in universities, has created a significant barrier to accessing academic education for many young women. This discriminatory attitude is rooted in the misogynistic culture of the Taliban, which limits women to the traditional role of wives and mothers, prohibiting them from even fleeing domestic violence. The Taliban’s fear of allowing women to study reflects their desire to maintain control over public life, denying women the opportunity to actively participate in society. This retrograde attitude demonstrates their inability to govern inclusively and puts the future of women and the nation itself at risk. The fight for the right to education therefore becomes crucial not only for the emancipation of women, but also for the construction of a fair and prosperous society. A path that has not been easy even in the West where women have struggled since the 19th century to gain access to higher education and university. In the biography of Maria Montessori – among the first women to graduate in medicine in Italy – there are stories of the discrimination and insults to which she was subjected.
Women are the drivers of change
What will happen to the new generations? In particular, of those women who have become more politically and socially aware?
The future of the new generations in Afghanistan, especially for women who are gaining greater political and social awareness, is full of challenges. Growing political and social awareness among women can become a driver for resistance and change. Support from the international community, media attention and human rights organizations can play a crucial role in protecting and amplifying women’s voices in Afghanistan. The fate of the new generations will largely depend on the ability to resist, adapt and transform challenges into opportunities for progressive and inclusive change.
Protests against the Taliban regime (Getty Images)
When media attention wanes
When Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban, the media brought attention to the disaster it would cause. Then, however, little by little, the attention waned because the war in Ukraine arrived and then the tragic revival of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But in the meantime, women continue to be in danger in Kabul. What needs to be done so that attention doesn’t disappear?
Human rights organizations, activists and the media must continue to raise public awareness of the challenges that Afghan women face on a daily basis under the Taliban regime. Media campaigns, direct testimonies and constant updates contribute to keeping attention high on the emergency in Afghanistan. States and international organizations must exert constant diplomatic pressure on the Taliban government to respect women’s rights. Inclusion of the issue in international negotiations and targeted sanctions can be effective tools.
The importance of Amnesty International’s legacy of solidarity
It is clear that it is essential that everyone takes part in the struggle of thousands of women and men who are risking their lives to build a future of rights and freedom. You launched the solidarity legacy campaign. What is it about exactly? How could it bring about change?
The campaign “Who will fight in your place when you are no longer here?” of Amnesty International promotes the solidarity legacy as a tool to support the daily struggle of women and men in Afghanistan. The solidarity bequest is a non-binding gesture that allows you to leave a legacy of ideals of respect for human rights. It is flexible and can be revised or modified at any time without affecting the rights of legitimate heirs and does not require large assets. The campaign invites us to consider the solidarity legacy as a concrete form of solidarity to guarantee a future of rights and freedoms in Afghanistan. In a context in which thousands of people risk their lives to build a better future, the solidarity legacy becomes a powerful tool to contribute to this change.
Do the Taliban make you work or do you find it difficult?
How could they make us work if our lists include the names of the people to be saved and theirs the names of the people to be eliminated, perfectly coinciding? But, even if we cannot carry out research in the country, we rely on those who defend human rights there with enormous courage. We collect testimonies from inside and outside the country. And we produce our reports and our complaints, always hoping that those who have the power to change things will use them.
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