As the world marks International Women’s Day, we have to address the elephant in the room. When it comes to honoring and protecting the rights of women, far too much of the global community is backsliding.
As a legal scholar from Afghanistan, I know firsthand about these struggles as they pertain to the women of my country. For those of us who were raised and educated in a post-Taliban era, the regime’s resurgence in the summer of 2021 was incomprehensible. How could our country possibly move forward under the Taliban’s bigoted and misogynistic worldview?
Initially, Western nations — led by the US — seemed to hold out hope the Taliban would comply with calls to respect the rights of women. But the regime made clear it had no intention of doing so. Since then, women in the country have stood by, having few options other than to watch their dignity and rights slip away.
The situation is grim, with the regime brazenly disregarding the will of the people they purport to govern, and shuttering entire generations of women and girls.
But especially on International Women’s Day, it is important to remember that the failure to protect the rights of women is not exclusive to Afghanistan.
Around the globe, women remain underrepresented in politics; fewer than one-third of the UN’s 193 member states have had a woman at the helm. And a spate of recent resignations of prominent female leaders like New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon, and Finland’s Sanna Marin have sparked concerns about the continuity of female representation in leadership positions. This is particularly worrisome given the scarcity of female political figures worldwide.
In Afghanistan and beyond, governments continue to enact laws that curtail women’s rights, perpetuating systemic discrimination, and marginalization. The Taliban’s regime in Afghanistan exemplifies this trend, with over 60 edicts restricting women’s rights, including their access to education, employment, and public spaces.
The fight for women’s rights has been arduous throughout history, but it remains crucial for women to unite, support, and empower each other. Acknowledging the material reality of gender equality and related rights guarantees is essential for ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals.
While challenges persist, there is hope for progress. Leaders like Barack Obama have advocated for increased female representation in governance, highlighting the potential positive impact of women in positions of power. By continuing to push for women’s rights and equality, societies can strive towards a more just and inclusive future for all genders.
The author is a legal scholar and activist in Afghanistan. For their safety and security, and in agreement with the author, we will not publicly identify them at this time.
