Opinion: By failing Afghan women, we are failing women everywhere
In August 2021, we failed the women of Afghanistan. As the country fell to the Taliban, we ignored their cries for help and abandoned them to the misogyny of the new regime. Today, women and girls in Afghanistan are excluded from all forms of public life. They are subject to harsh restrictions on their movements and appearance, under the watchful eye of male household members who are now responsible for their compliance with the Taliban policy of gender apartheid.
The international community has expressed concern, issued statements of condemnation, and yet taken no meaningful action. Their words ring hollow and their “feminist foreign policies” prove useless.
Meanwhile, other oppressive regimes of the world are watching. With our inaction, we have told the world that women are expendable. A year on, we can see the ripple effects that this message has had.
About the authors
Teresa Casale
Teresa Casale is the executive director of Mina’s List, which promotes women’s political leadership and peace globally. It has worked with women leaders around the world since 2012 — in countries including Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Nigeria — and has been directly involved in shaping U.S. policy on women, peace, and security. In August 2021, Mina’s List shifted its work to helping evacuate women political leaders from Afghanistan and helping them resettle in Europe and North America.
Tanya Henderson
Tanya Henderson is the founder and president of Mina’s List, which promotes women’s political leadership and peace globally. It has worked with women leaders around the world since 2012 — in countries including Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Nigeria — and has been directly involved in shaping U.S. policy on women, peace, and security. In August 2021, Mina’s List shifted its work to helping evacuate women political leaders from Afghanistan and helping them resettle in Europe and North America.
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