By Cashmere P. Dimabuyu, staff writer
The Taliban has erased 20 years of progress for Afghanistan women and girls. This restriction has significantly impacted women's educational opportunities and their ability to pursue careers. Through the Taliban they are being subjected to human rights violations, such as, losing their right to be able to walk the streets freely. Afghanistan women had started to gain independence by the year 1919 when women were given the right to vote. By the following year, the first school for girls opened, which paved the way for more education opportunities for the girls. In 1964, they officially gained equality in Afghanistan through the 1964 constitution. And in 1970, the government abolished polygamy and introduced compulsory education by raising the marriage age for women from 18 to 21.
However, women’s access to civil rights and liberties was drastically changed in the end of the 1980s when Afghanistan had won against the Soviet Union. The Mujahideen, and later the Taliban, put in place severe restrictions on the rights of women, forcing them to be excluded from public life. Two decades later, women and girls are still banned from attending secondary school and tertiary education, only being allowed to study up to grade 6. Women aren't even able to receive proper health care when sick, since they are prohibited from visiting male doctors. Due to the lack of education, this prevents women from becoming doctors, and therefore cannot be treated.
Women's employment opportunities have been curtailed under the Taliban's rule. Many women have been forced out of their jobs, and there are reports of women being removed from positions of authority and decision-making roles. Women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face routine discrimination, abuse, and violence. Human rights organizations have documented cases of arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearance of women who speak out or protest for their rights.
Despite the challenges, women's rights activists continue to resist the violence and fundamentalism of the Taliban. They continue to show resilience and bravery by forming new civil society groups to address community needs, while others are reopening their businesses and going back to work.
Comments