Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, extreme restrictions on the rights of women and girls have been rigorously imposed. More recently, a new morality order enacted by the Taliban titled the “Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” has further stripped women of their autonomy by effectively removing their presence in public life. Under this dystopian law, women are considered instruments of temptation where they are now mandated to conceal their voice, face, and body, among other articles dictating behavior and lifestyle. According to the Justice Ministry, punishment for violations includes “advice, warnings of divine punishment, verbal threats, confiscation of property, detention for one hour to three days in public jails, and any other punishment deemed appropriate.” In response to this law, many women have begun to post videos of themselves singing, “My voice is not forbidden” and “No to Taliban.” To further amplify this resistance, the international community must uplift Afghan women’s voices by constructively engaging with the Taliban and supporting civic spaces in order to prevent a society of gender apartheid from becoming the new normal.

When the United States and NATO forces withdrew their troops from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban quickly returned to power, leading to the passing of laws dictated by a strict interpretation of Islamic law. This has led to rulings banning girls from attending schools past the sixth grade, prohibiting women from working certain jobs, and restricting their access to movement without a male guardian. As a result, Afghanistan has become among the lowest-ranked countries in terms of inclusion, justice, and security according to the Women Peace and Security Index. Given the Taliban’s hardline stance on topics of gender equality, it will be necessary that foreign powers work to foster improvements to the lives of Afghan women through communication with the Taliban; however, they must be precautious of providing any legitimacy to the regime.

Although NGOs, IGOs, and countries including the United Kingdom, India, and the European Union have engaged in constructive talks with the Taliban, some have argued that engagement weakens attempts to effectively hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against the Afghan people. On the other hand, individuals including Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, say that “dialogue does not legitimize,” and argue that there has not been enough direct engagement. To continue interaction while also limiting the potential legitimization of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, groups that have condemned the weaponization of religion for discriminatory purposes, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), should assume the lead in discussing human rights and the consequences for violating those rights, as they may be able to appeal on religious grounds. In coordinating these discussions, it will be imperative that women and local NGOs are active participants on topics not only pertaining to issues regarding gender but to a wide range of challenges currently facing Afghanistan such as economic and humanitarian issues.

In addition to this, efforts must be taken to support and expand Afghanistan’s civic space. One of the many reasons combatting oppression has been especially difficult for Afghans is because political and media freedoms have significantly declined since the Taliban’s takeover. Dissidents who express opposition to the Taliban have been met with censorship, arbitrary arrests, and torture, making independent reporting and advocacy increasingly difficult. Thus, it is essential that human rights organizations and local NGOs are provided with financial assistance to better strengthen and protect the well-being of civil society organizations and activists. This will also help improve access to data on human rights violations and better inform policy research. A stronger civic space will increase the ability of these groups to negotiate and put pressure on authorities, heightening the potential for genuine change.

Women are integral to the health and development of society. The continual disempowerment and exclusion of women will only work to impair Afghanistan’s pathway to peace and prosperity. While many countries have begun to lose hope in the improvement of Afghanistan, it is crucial that the international community remain steadfast and committed to applying pressure on the Taliban in order to reclaim the fundamental rights of women and girls across the state.