It's Thursday, and my brain is so full! I am so grateful that this blog is a key commitment I made, because I assure you, I'll need to remember half of what I've learned!
Afghanistan to New York: Afghan Women Calling for Action
An Interactive Dialogue with Afghan Women from inside Afghanistan and in Exile
Summary of the Situation in Afghanistan:
The Taliban has stripped women of basic rights through over 100 oppressive decrees, creating a comprehensive system of gender persecution. Women are banned from education, employment, and public spaces, facing severe surveillance and punishment. This represents a deliberate strategy to eliminate women's citizenship and agency.
Minority women (particularly Hazara women), face compounded oppression. They experience targeted persecution, with over 5,000 women in hiding or forced exile, facing potential imprisonment or targeted killings.
Afghan women continue organizing secretly, demonstrating extraordinary resilience despite extreme restrictions. They are not passive victims but active resistance leaders, maintaining underground networks and continuing to advocate for their rights. Their courage becomes a powerful form of political resistance.
To hear directly from Afghan women, please watch this video that was presented during the live session:
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1k/k1kelped6e?kalturaStartTime=1167
To fully understand the specifics of the situation during the latter half of 2024, you can access the full text of the Report of the Special Rapporteur (Richard Bennett) on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan here.
Global Response
Multiple countries explicitly condemned the Taliban's actions as systematic human rights violations. Nations like Chile, France, and the Netherlands characterized the situation as gender apartheid, calling for international accountability. The global community increasingly views this as a critical human rights crisis requiring immediate, principled intervention.
Countries demonstrated tangible support through resettlement and humanitarian efforts.
- Canada resettled 55,000 Afghans, 22,000 being women and activists.
- Australia provided support reaching 2.3 million women.
- Greece pledged to use diplomatic channels and UN Security Council seat to challenge Taliban restrictions.
Urgent Recommendations
Recognize gender apartheid as an international crime
Impose targeted sanctions
Create humanitarian corridors
Ensure women's direct participation in all Afghanistan-related discussions.
Focus on transforming solidarity into concrete, actionable strategies.
Maintain momentum and focus on upholding Afghan women's rights and education.
The goal is to translate powerful dialogue into concrete strategies for supporting women's freedom.
Key Takeaways
Women's rights are fundamentally non-negotiable and universal.
Silence is complicity, and the international community must move from passive concern to decisive, principled action.
The struggle for Afghan women's rights represents a critical test of global commitment to human dignity.
“We are women. We are feminists. That is sisterhood, and sisterhood doesn't need a border. And we have to work, really, to show to everybody that we are together. Less words, more action. And we have to work together, because too many times we felt alone… we want to help, but we don't know where we have to start.” — MP from Italy
My Question:
How many Afghan women must die or disappear before the world unites to protect them? Haven't we figured this out yet?
"So What's Changed?" Reviewing Progress in US Gender Equity (US Women's Caucus)
In a room positively crackling with inspiration, two titans of the women's movement - the indomitable Eleanor Smeal and the trailblazing Carolyn Maloney - reminded us why the fight for equality is both a personal passion and a collective mission. With grace, fire (SO much fire!), and decades of clearly hard-won wisdom, these outrageous women painted a vivid picture of the ongoing struggle for women's rights, basicclly giving us a masterclass in activism.
Smeal, with her legendary ability to connect global and local struggles, and Maloney, whose legislative brilliance has transformed countless lives, spoke as mentors. Their presentations were more like passing a torch to a new generation with insights gained from years of relentless advocacy. They challenged us to see beyond our… current obstacles. And they said to imagine and fight for a world where women's rights are not a battle, but a given.
They didn't just describe the challenges - they provided a roadmap, showing how strategic organizing, persistent advocacy, and unwavering commitment can bend history toward justice.
Key Takeaways:
- ERA remains unratified but not defeated
- Young people's engagement is crucial
- Voting rights are under serious threat
- Intersectionality is key to the movement
- Global solidarity matters
Quotes:
Eleanor Smeal: "We are not only determined to do it for the women of the United States, but we're intent on doing it for the women of the world."
Carolyn Maloney: "We cannot and will not go backwards, and we are a major opponent of those who would take us there."
My Question:
Do I fully understand the complexities of different perspectives on the ratification of the ERA? I clearly need to read more!
And with that, sweet dreams — I’ll be back tomorrow!
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