18 Aug Latest from our Afghan Women Speak series: “Living under Taliban rule feels like dying a little every day.”
August 15th marked five years since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. We stand with the women – and all vulnerable groups – of Afghanistan against imperialism, militarism, fundamentalism, and fascism.
Today, we release a powerful new blog written by an Afghan woman as part of our award-winning Afghan Women Speak series: “Living under Taliban rule feels like dying a little every day.”
Five years into Taliban rule, the systematic erasure of women and girls from public life has only deepened. More than 100 decrees have been imposed restricting their rights and freedoms. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are banned from secondary and higher education. Women are barred from most employment and from medical training, face severe restrictions on their movement and access to public spaces, and are being denied the freedom to learn, work, create, travel, and determine their own futures.
Nearly 8 in 10 young Afghan women are now excluded from education, employment, or training. Child and forced marriage, poverty, and a devastating mental health crisis are taking an enormous toll. The restrictions on women’s medical education are also threatening the future of healthcare for women and girls.
As the woman whose words we publish today writes: “Living under Taliban rule feels like dying a little every day.”
We demand sustained international attention and action to confront the gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
We cannot allow Afghanistan – or the women and girls who continue to resist – to be forgotten.
We cannot underestimate the power of our solidarity at this moment.
We RISE with and for our Afghan sisters.
• READ the new blog out today:
“Living under Taliban rule feels like dying a little every day.”
• More stories are coming in from Afghanistan. RAISE awareness. SHARE them widely. Visit vday.org/afghanwomenspeak
• DONATE to the Simeen Mobile Health Team today