Afghanistan has had its most terrifying historical journey in modern times over the past two years. The surrender of Afghanistan to the Taliban not only changed the country’s political system but also led to the destruction of hopes and the alteration of the destiny of millions of its citizens towards darkness and death. In this […]
Afghanistan has had its most terrifying historical journey in modern times over the past two years. The surrender of Afghanistan to the Taliban not only changed the country’s political system but also led to the destruction of hopes and the alteration of the destiny of millions of its citizens towards darkness and death. In this surrender, the women and girls of this land lost their most fundamental human rights, namely the right to live freely and the right to social life. Killing and imprisoning of human rights activists and elites of all races and ethnicities who protesting for their human rights, systematic mass killings, torture, and imprisonment of Hazaras and Tajiks are also examples of racial apartheid imposed on the people of Afghanistan. Given the dire situation of the people and human rights in Afghanistan, the Afghan Women Journalists Advocacy Group on the eve of the Doha Conference reminds the international community of vital points regarding the fate of the Afghan people.
1. Recognizing Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: A girl protesting against Taliban’s As an example, personal imprisonment is taken and subjected to sexual assault, resulting in her impregnation by a Taliban member. Fearing exposure, they quickly release the girl from prison, and she escapes to another city, where she gives birth to her child. The Taliban finds the girl in another city, kills both her and her child, and buries them. This untold fate is shared by many young women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Just as racial apartheid in the world is recognized by one of its important indicators, such as systematic and structured oppression by the ruling group against another group due to race, the systematic and structured oppression by the Taliban against women is due to their gender. This historical oppression of Afghan women should also be recognized by the international community. The fundamental right ofAfghan women fighters is their political, social, and economic participation, which should not be reduced to the schooling of women and girls at negotiation tables.
2. Creating a Safe Working Environment and Right to Access Information for Women Journalists and Women Media: After Afghanistan’s surrender to the Taliban, Afghan women became marginalized and withdrawn from all social, political, and economic spheres due to the oppressive and mono-gendered Taliban regime. In this context, women journalists and women media suffered even more damage. In 2023, less than 2000 journalists were active in Afghanistan, among which only 5% were women, and the rest were men. Of the 543 active media outlets counted before August 24, 1400, only 312 media outlets were operational in early Leo. Most media outlets owned by women were destroyed or closed by the Taliban. Women journalists working in a few private media outlets are forced to cover their faces with masks, and their wages have been reduced to less than half. Women are absent from leadership positions in the media, and the current government, due to being women, excludes women journalists from interviews and even does not allow them to participate in press conferences. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on creating a safe space and the right to access information for women journalists and women media in this meeting.
3. Establishing of Inclusive Governance: Afghanistan’s history proves that a one-dimensional government has failed to lead Afghanistan towards peace. The oppression and marginalization of people based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and language will exacerbate and prolong the war and generate extremism in Afghanistan. Afghan women have proven through their political experiences that they are capable in governance. An inclusive government where women also see themselves dynamically and actively participating in Afghan politics and have a meaningful presence is necessary.
4. Afghanistan has experienced special representatives of the United Nations in its history. The experience of some of these special representatives has been unsuccessful, and the war in Afghanistan has intensified. Thenoteworthy point is that these representatives should have a deep understanding of all the people, traditions, and religions of Afghanistan to be able to guide Afghanistan towards peace. Otherwise, the efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan will continue to be unsuccessful.
5. Sustainable peace will be one in which social justice is respected. Over the past two decades, thousands of innocent and civilian people of Afghanistan have been killed, disabled, or wounded by Taliban suicide and indiscriminate attacks. The Taliban must be held accountable for the inhumane crimes they have committed over the past two decades and brought before an international criminal court.
- نویسنده : Afghanistan Women News Agency
- منبع خبر : Afghanistan Women News Agency
