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Opinion | World is betraying Afghan women by legitimising the Taliban
- Engaging with the Taliban in the hope it reverses its position on human rights is naive, particularly when the situation for women is worsening
- The Taliban is counting on the world – particularly the West – to put the humanitarian crisis and threat of terrorism above human rights
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As the world sees in a new year, Afghanistan remains a problem and its future uncertain. The country continues to suffer through a humanitarian crisis and the Taliban continues to rule through brutality, severely oppressing women. The world has been unsure how to solve these problems, though a recent vote at the United Nations suggests this might be changing.
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On December 29, the UN Security Council passed a resolution on the Afghanistan independent assessment, meant to be a blueprint of “forward-looking recommendations” to fully integrate Afghanistan into the international community through increasing engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner.
This is a recognition that the status quo isn’t working and that solving Afghanistan’s problems begins and ends with the Taliban, rulers of Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US-led forces in August 2021. No country has officially recognised the Taliban government due to its links with terrorist groups and poor human rights record.
With the group seemingly in control of the country for the long term, the international community appears to have decided to engage with the Taliban, with the aim of eventual recognition and a seat at the UN.
But there is a catch. The report provides clear guidelines for the Taliban to be legitimised, including that: “Any formal reintegration of Afghanistan into global institutions and systems will require the participation and leadership of Afghan women.”
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This is for good reason. The Taliban is arguably the most anti-women regime on the planet, denying education and employment, enforcing a strict code of veiling and restricting women to the home or under the supervision of male family members.
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