HRW Calls For Stronger Global Action Against Taliban’s Oppression Of Afghan Women
On International Women’s Day, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for increased support for Afghan women facing Taliban oppression.
On International Women’s Day, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for increased support for Afghan women facing Taliban oppression.
The organisation emphasised the Afghan women’s ongoing struggle for rights despite severe restrictions.
HRW also urged stronger protections for Afghan women seeking asylum and the creation of a safe and legal resettlement process.
In a statement issued on Friday, 8 March, HRW commended Afghan women’s resistance against Taliban rule over the past three years.
Sahar Fetrat, a researcher at HRW, highlighted that Afghan women continue to fight for their rights despite facing torture and severe punishment for their activism.
HRW also recognised key achievements by Afghan women protesters, including legal action by four major European countries seeking to prosecute the Taliban at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, and the ICC prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against the Taliban leader on charges of crimes against humanity.
HRW also noted that in October 2023, the European Court of Justice ruled that all Afghan women are eligible for asylum in EU countries due to the Taliban’s systematic persecution.
The organisation also stressed that backing Afghan women and their allies has strengthened international efforts to classify gender apartheid as a crime under international law.
HRW has urged international courts and the global community to implement legal processes to hold the Taliban accountable and ensure justice for Afghan women.
The statement underscores the pressing need for sustained international efforts to address the Taliban’s systematic oppression and support Afghan women in their continued fight for rights and dignity.
