December 10 is International Human Rights Day. It is a day to commemorate human rights for all regardless of their background, ethnicity, and gender. In Afghanistan, this day stands as a stark reminder of the fundamental rights Afghan women have been denied by the Taliban regime.
Afghan women are mourning the loss of their fundamental human rights and their freedoms. They have not been able to celebrate this monumental day since 2021 when the Taliban took power by force and started enforcing their restrictive edicts. During the three years of the Taliban in power, there has been a complete reversal of all women’s rights advancements made during the previous 20 years of growth in this sector.
Taliban officials are proudly announcing that 80% of women’s rights have been achieved under their establishment. However, Afghan girls cannot attend school beyond the sixth grade, women are not allowed to pursue education or any training even in midwifery or nursing, women cannot be employed, and they don’t have any freedom of movement. They can no longer leave their house without a male chaperone, they cannot be heard in public, or even speak with one another amongst many other horrifying restrictions.
While the Human Rights Day is a somber day for Afghan women, it marks a day of reflection for the global community. The international community must stand together to support the realization of Afghan women’s rights in the hope that the next International Human Rights Day in 2025 will be described as a day of celebration for Afghan women instead of a day of sorrow.
