WCAPS Calls on the Biden Administration to Ensure the Safety of Afghan Women and Girls August 27, 2021 As the situation in Afghanistan is quickly deteriorating, the Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) calls on the Biden Administration to ensure the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan are secure amid a Taliban takeover. For the past 20 years, Afghan women have been leading many peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. From peacemakers, journalists, and community leaders, these women have courageously worked alongside activists and other international organizations to further the peacebuilding agenda in Afghanistan. Historically, Afghan women have experienced marginalization and exclusion, particularly in peacebuilding and conflict transformation initiatives. In 2001, after the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghan girls furthered their education, obtained prominent professional careers, and equality. Unfortunately, this future is no longer viable under a return of the Taliban. Afghan women face acute danger. The forced marriages to Taliban leaders prohibits girls from seeking an education and women from working. Women are expected to wear burqas, fully covering their bodies or suffer violent reprisal. In some instances, women have been beaten to death for wearing unauthorized clothing. Women’s fundamental human rights are nonexistent, as the Taliban aims to enforce an authoritarian regime based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law. Among the 250,000 internally displaced peoples (IDPs) who have been forced to flee Afghanistan since May, 80 percent are women and children1. While our efforts in Afghanistan were strictly counterterrorism, we also made a commitment to women and girls most affected by the Taliban. Our efforts in Afghanistan helped ensure a safer future for women and girls. Our support has increased educational opportunities, warranted the human rights of Afghan women and girls, and above all, their security. We must continue to live up to these commitments and support the women and girls in Afghanistan as they encounter increased violence and human rights violations with a Taliban regime.
1
Bloomberg QuickTake: Now. “UN: 80% of Afghan Refugees Fleeing Taliban are Women and Children” YouTube. August 13, 2021. https://youtu.be/saerzTg1nnY
WCAPS urgently requests the Biden Administration to guard Afghan women and girls' safety under a Taliban government. Afghanistan suffers a devastating setback to its democratic institutions, and women and girls are the primary targets. Namely, women with a history of working closely with the United States and other international organizations to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and women, peace, and security. WCAPS's commitment to defending and supporting the human rights of Afghanistan people, particularly women and girls, is an illustration of redefining national security. Therefore, we must lead by example and uphold the duties we pledged to upon signing the Women, Peace, and Security Act.