Article and graphics by Indira D’Souza, IANGEL Summer 2021 Intern
Risks Faced by Afghan Women and Girls
In recent weeks, as the Taliban took control of provinces in Afghanistan, reports emerged of women being pushed from employment opportunities, women and girls facing violence in public, and women’s rights defenders coming under threat of corporal punishment or execution. Other reports include women being forced into marriages or sexual slavery within Taliban forces. One mother told news outlets, “The Taliban said if a house had two daughters, at least one should be given in marriage to the Taliban.” Women in Afghanistan have struggled with recent closures of clinics and medical facilities and new requirements to be accompanied by male escorts to appointments. In light of this crisis, many women and girls will need shelter, food, and health services. They will also face increased risk of gender based violence, including child marriage, human trafficking, and domestic violence. Measurements of overall violence against women are better predictors of state peacefulness than other indicators such as wealth, democracy level, or civilizational identity. The Biden Administration must take action to reduce violence against women and girls in Afghanistan and support vulnerable Afghans as they evacuate the country.
Urgent Need for International Action on Afghanistan
At a recent emergency session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, senior Afghanistan ambassador Nasir Ahmad Andisha called for strong international action to condemn the Taliban government. He noted that human rights restrictions and violations have been occurring despite promises from the Taliban to respect human rights. Andisha referred to incidents of forced marriage, door-to-door searches, and intimidation of journalists. Thus far, the Human Rights Council resolution submitted by Pakistan does not refer to the Taliban by name and does not call for a fact-finding probe into the Taliban government. Significant international action must occur to hold the Taliban accountable for its violations of human rights in Afghanistan. As a member of The Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally, IANGEL has signed a letter to the Biden Administration calling for action related to women and girls rights. Other signatories include organizations such as Amnesty International USA, Futures Without Violence, Women’s Refugee Commission, and Woman for Woman International.
Recommendations to Reduce Violence Against Women and Girls
As a member of The Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally, IANGEL calls for the following responses to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan:
1. Prioritize the evacuation of women’s rights defenders, especially those who are already being targeted for harassment, abuse and violence. This may be accomplished by suspending bureaucratic requirements for visas, providing support for visa processing and refugee resettlement. It may also include increased security for women waiting to evacuate and ensuring their safe passage to points of departure. Finally, provide humanitarian parole for those at risk of persecution but who are ineligible under current visa categories.
2. Support and fund Afghan women’s rights defenders and peacebuilders through international funds and human rights mechanisms, including the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.
3. Ensure that gender-based violence preventions and responses are integrated into humanitarian response plans. This includes engaging stakeholders to mitigate risks of early and forced marriage, human trafficking, and intimate partner violence.
4. Secure shelters serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence. Ensure the privacy and protection of people in these shelters by providing robust funding for gender-based violence services.
5. Hold the Taliban and all actors publicly accountable for violations of international human rights law and other human rights abuses. This includes the right to live free of gender-based violence, the right to peace and security, and the right to employment, among others.
6. Ensure paths to seeking asylum are fully open to Afghans as guaranteed by international law. Increase the number of refugees permitted to enter the United States and resettle.
7. Create durable solutions based on the wishes and needs of Afghan refugees, including women and girls at risk of facing gender-based violence.
The Biden Administration has a responsibility to stand against gender-based violence and support women and girls in Afghanistan. We urge the Administration to take the actions outlined in this letter and work urgently and comprehensively to protect Afghan refugees and citizens.