Living in the United States, it has been unreal to watch the events in Afghanistan unfold. I wasn’t born at the time of the Taliban’s occupation in the 1990s and while I knew Afghanistan had its problems, I understand now how much worse it has become for the Afghan people caught in the war's path. Regardless of any qualms one may have with the issue or Afghanistan, it is undeniable that the abuse and torture of innocent people, especially women, is intolerable. The deep void of women’s protections, much less rights, in the country as of now only brings to attention the need for women’s rights to be a priority in today’s world.
While Afghanistan never had the best societal and legal protections for women, it was better than the current complete lack of them. For the almost fifth of women facing sexual abuse and more than half, physical abuse, the government provided justice as they were capable through the judicial system and women’s rights laws. The most prominent women’s advocacy organization, Women for Afghan Women, spent years creating a network of safehouses, family centers, and children’s homes spread through fourteen of the thirty-four Afghan provinces. The efforts by both Aghan-based and international groups were at the forefront of changing the tide for women’s rights, after they were previously demolished by the Taliban—now, they’re already returning to their nonexistent state.
To best ensure that at least those who were being protected at the time of the takeover are still protected, most safehouse directors and organization leaders have fled or closed their doors. Knowing they have to evade the Taliban’s threats, they’ve become close to invisible by burning records, keeping silent, and not accepting any new cases. Moreover, the threats don’t just come from the Taliban, but also from the hundreds of male prisoners the Taliban has released; many of the prisoners were punished for crimes against women and there have already been cases of threats against the women and anyone who helped secure justice (lawyers, safe houses, etc.). In the end, the cost of closing doors and hiding is risking women who need help but have nowhere to go in the face of returning to a life of tyranny.
No one knows for certain how the Taliban will implement Sharia Law, or their interpretation of Islamic Law. They will most likely foster a rigid society, as they did in 1996, but its leaders have evaded the question of how exactly women will be treated. To understand how life was after the civil war and takeover in 1996, imagine only leaving your home with a male guardian, covering your full body with no choice, not being allowed to work, and losing your education after ten years of age. Elsewhere in society, music and movies are banned, gatherings are limited, and executions are common. In 2015, as the result of a smaller insurgency, women’s centers were bombarded with threats—one woman was told that “they [Taliban] would capture her and hang her in the village square as an example”. Women in Afghanistan today expect there to be similar rules established in the coming months, and like in 1996, they have no choice but to succumb to them. Despite statements by the Taliban that women will be allowed to work and travel alone under some circumstances, many cease to believe any reassurances as the same excuses were made decades before.
Ending on an overly optimistic note does nothing for all the Afghans suffering right now, so rather it is more helpful to emphasize the ways in which we can support them. Simply uplifting and amplifying the voices of Afghan women is one of the easiest ways to make a difference. Secret social media accounts, blogs, and news sites exist where we can hear from the women themselves how they need relief; bringing attention to these stories is where our efforts should currently lie. To provide relief in monetary ways, listed below are some certified campaigns:
https://www.womenforwomen.org/ (Donations to help Afghan women connect and gather safely)
https://www.protectafghanwomen.org/ (Donations to pay for visas and evacuations)
https://rukhshana.com/ (Women’s rights-based journalism site in Afghanistan that needs funds to continue)
https://womenforafghanwomen.org/about/ (Donations for immediate relief and supplies)
https://www.gofundme.com/f/protect-women-leaders-in-afghanistan (Donations for immediate relief and supplies)
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