The Lost Half

The Taliban took control of much of Afghanistan’s territory in August 2021, with Kabul among the last cities to fall on August 15.

The abrupt withdrawal of the United States resulted in more violence, reminding the Afghans of what they suffered 25 years ago: the loss of their entire social structure and health infrastructure, the dismissal of women’s rights and a complete shutdown of the educational system.

One of the groups most affected by the long war was Afghan women, who are now faced with a harsh and new reality. They fear that the loss of their lifestyles and their access to education alongside a total violation of fundamental rights is what awaits them under the Taliban.

Afghan woman have long been fighting a complicated war. They bear the brunt of terrorist violence. Afghan women and children have suffered the most throughout the conflict. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, they constitute 46 percent of all civilian casualties and remain extremely vulnerable in times ahead. According to the Afghanistan Security and Defence Department, at least 20 international militant groups are operating in Afghanistan, most of whom will attack many soft targets to make territorial gains.

There has been a spate of targeted killings of women journalists, human rights defenders and women working for the Supreme Court. Parliament member and negotiator Fawzia Koofi was shot in the arm in 2020, but survived the assassination attempt and went back to the peace talks in Doha as one of the few female participants. Her example illustrates the courage with which Afghan women have struggled for their rights during this difficult phase.

Despite their bleak prospects, Afghan women are defiant and refuse to remain silent. The world must give credit to these voices who speak up on one of the most complicated situations in the world.

Afghan women hold no position in the government administration, and additionally, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has also been abolished. Moreover, girls’ education is restricted till grade 6 and they are banned from working outside their homes. The Taliban have ordered women to cover their faces in public. These women are not allowed to go outside their homes until there is a necessity. They should be accompanied by their male close relatives on long-distance routes.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world that is depriving girls of higher school education. It is reported that girls are bearing the brunt of the deteriorating situation. It is a rights catastrophe and humanitarian crisis, where the young women are kept emotionally distressed and in isolation. Women are more than half of the population in Afghanistan, and due to economic hardships, 97% of families are struggling for their bread and butter. The women are eating less to provide better food to the earning male person. This causes weight loss and less energy to work proficiently. Other than this, 88% of girls got married early due to the poor economic conditions of the family. The men consider it better to marry a young girl and lessen their expenses.