An Afghan woman and child begging in a graveyard
Photo Credit: Massoud Hossanini
Esprit de Corps Magazine July 2022 // Volume 29 Issue 6
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 40
by Military Woman
Question:
How has this last year been for women and girls in Afghanistan?
Answer:
No matter what lens you wish to use, the answer to this question has to be something along the lines of “extraordinarily challenging”. Women and girls in Afghanistan continue to lose their right to work, to access education, to participate in governance, and to engage in public life.
Just one year ago, women’s participation in Afghanistan’s work force was 22% and growing rapidly. Today, the only jobs women are consistently allowed to have are as teachers and health care providers for other women and girls.
Also, just one year ago, millions of Afghan women and girls had access to formal education. Today’s numbers are drastically lower, with girls’ education being stopped at grade 6 (age 10). University classes – if offered at all – must have sex-segregated settings with female-only staff.
One year ago, women made up 25% of Afghanistan’s parliament. Today, women have no place in the Taliban’s male-only cabinet. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is now the Ministry of the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue. The new ministry’s declarations include forbidding women from leaving the house, except for essential reasons, and even then only if completely shrouded from head to toe. Once out of the house, women are forbidden to drive and must have a male family member present if travelling more than 70 km from their home.
Adding to this dire situation is a growing economic crisis, with most Afghan households no longer able to meet their basic needs. This means at least 23 million people in Afghanistan are now at risk of starvation, especially women and girls. Women are also facing skyrocketing rates of intimate partner violence as society-wide stress increases. With few options available for women to turn to, the results are predictable – a drastic rise in women’s death by domestic homicide and suicide.
In 2001, the Canadian government was seen to stand with and amplify the voices of the women and girls of Afghanistan. One would expect that resolve to be even stronger today given Canada’s feminist international assistance policy and commitment to its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
And yet, despite Canada’s commitment to resettle 40,000 at-risk Afghans, as of June 15, 2022 just under 16,000 have arrived since August 2021. By comparison – just over 16,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada within the first two months of their resettlement program.
Part of the problem is that the situation in Afghanistan is extremely complex. Moving forward will require multiple lines of action, including collaborative teamwork that can be catalyzed and enhanced through Canada’s strengths as a convenor – something we are apparently known to be “good at”.
Perhaps, then, Canada could be convening more international discussions to address pressing questions around the present situation in Afghanistan. How can Afghan women’s voices best be included and listened to for all issues impacting them? How can the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan best be avoided? What role should the UN be playing? Should there be a ban on the Taliban’s international travel?
Canadian parliamentarians could also convene domestically to formulate a whole-of-government action plan. Such an action plan would address how to expedite the review of Afghan applications to come to Canada. Prioritization should be given to at-risk Afghans, including specifically women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, and persecuted religious and sexual minorities.
Canada could also be working to develop biometric validation processes for all, but especially for the 2,900 at-risk Afghans pre-verified by Department of National Defence as having enduring ties to Canada. Also, as has been testified to in parliament, there are groups willing to facilitate those biometrics — whether that be in Afghanistan, in a third-party country, or in Canada. Political will, therefore appearing to be the only remaining barrier to action.
Everyone should have the right to live free from tyranny, but this aspiration requires the global community’s support. For the sake of all Afghans, but especially the women and girls, Canada’s original promise of support has not yet been fulfilled.
