Findings by the Women and Children Research and Advocacy Network show about 95% of women avoid legal cases due to distrust of the Taliban-controlled justice system, while 65% report negative court experiences.
The findings were presented on Thursday, April 30, at the launch of a joint study by the network and the University of Toronto titled Women’s Access to Justice in Afghanistan in Toronto.
At the event, attended by legal experts, civil society activists, academics, diplomats and journalists, organisers said the research aimed to highlight women’s access to justice in Afghanistan and draw international attention to structural barriers.
The report found that Afghanistan’s formal justice system has undergone fundamental changes under Taliban rule.
According to the data, 81% of respondents said the justice system has changed completely or to a large extent, while 91% believed the removal of female legal professionals has had a serious negative impact on judicial outcomes.
Zarqa Yaftali, founder of the network, said formal justice mechanisms under the Taliban have been significantly weakened and replaced by systems that are neither fair nor effective, and which have expanded impunity, particularly in cases of violence against women.
According to the network’s statement, Professor Edward Schatz of the University of Toronto said the university remains committed to highlighting Afghanistan in academic and policy forums and expanding cooperation with Afghan institutions.
Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur, stressed that international accountability and sustained pressure to improve human rights, particularly women’s rights, are essential.
Fawzia Koofi, former Afghan MP, said the absence of fair trials and the rise in arbitrary detentions are contributing to growing insecurity and instability in society.
The meeting concluded with calls for coordinated and sustained international action and support for civil society, particularly women-led organisations.
