Afghan women launch global campaign against gender apartheid

KABUL: The Afghan Women’s Coordination Association has initiated a global campaign titled “End Gender Apartheid Now,” aimed at combating systemic discrimination against women. This eight-week campaign commenced on Monday, and each week, the activities and voices of members of the association will be highlighted in one of the countries worldwide to showcase the resilience of Afghan women. Members of the association have announced that during this campaign, they will raise their voices of protest across 20 countries and in 30 provinces of Afghanistan, urging the international community not to forget Afghan women in their current difficult circumstances. According to the statement, since the Taliban’s return to power, the situation for women and girls has structurally deteriorated; women have been excluded from public life, girls have been deprived of education, and the future of an entire generation is under threat. The Afghan Women’s Coordination Association stated that while the oppression of women has intensified, the world is normalizing the situation and remaining silent about it. The acceptance of Taliban representatives in Europe, the recognition of this group by Russia, and U.S. financial support for the Taliban suggest that condemnations and discussions aimed at securing women’s fundamental rights have failed. Members of this association emphasized that words alone have not protected Afghan women, and now practical actions are essential to secure their rights. For over four years, women in Afghanistan have been denied access to education, work, freedom of expression, and the right to choose, leading to their removal from crucial societal structures.