The loss of humanity – gender apartheid in Afghanistan

This article is written by Dr Arianna Briganti, Founder and Deputy Chairwoman, NOVE Onlus.

• The problem: The Taliban are progressively denying women fundamental rights and fostering a climate of gender apartheid, whilst the west remains idle in front of the loss of human values.
• Why it matters: The rights of women around the globe remain under threat. Afghanistan is emblematic of a world order shaped by oppression and violence.
• The solution: There is no universal solution to solve human rights violations suffered by women and children around the globe. In the context of Afghanistan, NOVE Onlus focuses on contributing to the implementation of the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and stresses the nexus of gender justice and human security.

Every time I’m asked to write about gender justice the words by Simone de Beauvoir resound in my head. “I hesitated a long time […]. The subject is irritating, especially for women; and it is not new.”

My irritation originates from the fact that the world is still plagued by inequalities, lack of freedom and poverty, all of which often have a female face.

Since its return, the Taliban emirate of Afghanistan has progressively denied women fundamental rights, such as that to attend high school and university, or leave the house without a male chaperone.

In December 2022 the de facto government issued another cruel decree barring women from working in national and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). The devastating impact on women's rights was estimated by the UN in a decrease of 50% in life-saving assistance depriving over 11.6 million women and girls of a dignified life.

According to the World Food Programme, Afghanistan represents one of the world's worst humanitarian catastrophes; 98% of the population does not have enough food and some 3.9 million children are malnourished.

Gender apartheid in Afghanistan

Hatred and fear of women by the dominant patriarchal power system led to their dehumanisation, and consequently to the decaying of humanity. As recently stated by Richard Bennett, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, “the cumulative effect of the restrictions on women and girls [...] is tantamount to gender apartheid.”

The Italian INGO NOVE Onlus, active in Afghanistan since 2013, aligns its work with the UN resolution and strives to contribute to the building of a world in which gender justice and respect for human rights prevail. NOVE actively supports girls and women to overcome barriers that hinder their full participation in economic, political and social life. It creates and strengthens initiatives for sustainable socio-economic development. To this end, it provides women with education, vocational training and employment opportunities as part of a self-emancipation process.

Without women, democracy is weaker and global peace is in peril.

In August 2021 its international team made up of development professionals, organised the evacuation of more than 400 Afghan civilians, mainly women and children from Kabul. The organisation is committed to remaining in Afghanistan side by side with the Afghan population, including millions of women and children.

The women of Afghanistan are emblematic of a mainstream world order shaped by the dominant globalised and neo-liberal processes inclusive of capitalism, patriarchal values, environmental exploitation, imperialism and all forms of discrimination. They are fighting not only for themselves and for a stable Afghanistan but for a fairer, equal and just world. They are doing so alongside their sisters in resistance from Myanmar, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Mexico, the US, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Peru. The list is infinite, indicative of the gravity of the situation involving almost every country on the planet. Women and men need to work together in pursuing peace and social justice.

The bottom line

Without women, democracy is weaker and global peace is in peril. Hence, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in October 2000 which called for the increased participation of women “in all efforts for the promotion of peace and security”.

The return of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan deprived the population, in particular women and children, of basic human rights, and 98% of the Afghan population does not have enough food. The INGO NOVE Onlus pledged to remain in Afghanistan in support of the local population.

Women worldwide are fighting to protect their freedoms and fight for gender justice. There is no social justice without gender justice.

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(Image Credit: Unsplash)