Professor Allan B.’s Post

Essential new report by UN Women in Afghanistan with latest data to understand the catastrophic consequences for Afghan women and girls when there is inaction to restore their basic human rights to education, to health, to protection, to safety, to dignity. More than one million girls out of school in Afghanistan for more than 1,000 days should be a reminder why the world cannot abandon them. #Afghanistan #womensrights United Nations UN Women

📰 Addressing Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: A Call to Action In Afghanistan, the systemic and institutionalized discrimination against women and girls continues to escalate. This gender apartheid not only violates fundamental human rights but also stifles the country's potential for growth and development. Women and girls are being denied education, employment, and the basic freedoms necessary for a dignified life. The policies enforced by the regime are not only oppressive but also a direct contravention of international human rights laws and norms. 📢 As a Legal Investigator at the International Commission of Jurists and a dedicated advocate for women's rights, I am urging the international community, policymakers, and civil society organizations to: 1. Amplify Voices: Ensure the stories and struggles of Afghan women and girls are heard globally. 2. Impose Sanctions: Implement targeted sanctions against those perpetuating and enforcing these discriminatory policies. 3. Support NGOs: Provide robust support to NGOs and grassroots organizations working tirelessly to protect and empower Afghan women. 4. Foster Education: Advocate for and support initiatives that provide remote and safe educational opportunities for Afghan girls. 5. Promote Accountability: Hold the Afghan regime accountable through international legal mechanisms and pressure. We must act collectively and decisively to dismantle gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Every woman and girl deserves the right to live in freedom and equality, and it is our responsibility to stand with them in solidarity and action. 💪 Together, we can make a difference. #GenderApartheid #Afghanistan #HumanRights #WomenEmpowerment #Equality #InternationalLaw #ICJ

The UN Special Rapporteur’s annual report on human rights in Afghanistan lays bare the alarming phenomenon of an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity and exclusion of women and girls. In the new report, Richard Bennett, the UN’s Special Rapporteur, provides an intersectional analysis of the establishment and enforcement of this institutionalized system of unparalleled gender oppression. It paints a picture of a worsening situation for women and girls. https://lnkd.in/dswjMcEB

The Taliban's recent edict to bar Afghan female medical students from continuing their studies is a deeply troubling step backward, further complicated by the fact that the Taliban are not entirely independent in their decision-making process. They are under significant influence from neighboring countries, including Pakistan, which sheltered and harbored Taliban members for decades against the former democratic Afghan government. These recent bans not only violate fundamental human rights but also signify a short-sighted approach that could shorten the lifespan of the Taliban's own government. By implementing such regressive policies, the Taliban are inadvertently creating friction and division within their ranks, potentially paving the way for a new political chapter in Afghanistan that may see a shift away from their governance. This development is a regression not just for gender equality and women's rights, but for the entire nation, affecting healthcare accessibility and detrimentally impacting Afghanistan's societal progress and international relations.

"𝓗𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 are key to Pakistan’s development and growth, yet challenges remain: 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 affect countless lives. •𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 face discrimination, workers lack fair wages and safe conditions, and many children are deprived of education. Upholding these rights means more than social justice—it builds a stronger, more resilient society. Together, we can advocate for change, ensuring every Pakistani has access to dignity, equality, and opportunity. I'll never advocate for equality in job opportunities across gender. But I'll always emphasize on 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. This is what our religion teaches, and that's surely the correct way and the path to success. #humanrights #pakistan

🚨 What is Gender Apartheid? Gender apartheid refers to the systemic discrimination, segregation, and oppression of individuals based on their gender, depriving them of basic human rights and freedoms. In Afghanistan, this term perfectly describes the plight of women under the Taliban regime. ⚠️ Obstacles Women Face in Afghanistan: 👩🎓 No Access to Education: Girls are banned from attending secondary schools and universities. A generation of Afghan women is being denied the right to learn and grow. 🚫 Workplace Exclusion: Women are prohibited from working in most sectors, cutting off financial independence and silencing their voices in society. 🚷 Restricted Movement: Women can’t travel without a male guardian, limiting their autonomy and access to health services or other essential needs. 📜 No Political Representation: Women are excluded from governance and decision-making processes, leaving them powerless to advocate for change. 🧕 Enforced Dress Codes: Strict mandates on wearing burqas and other coverings stifle freedom of expression and identity. ❤️ We Stand with Afghan Women Their courage and resilience inspire us to demand change. No one should be stripped of their dreams, education, or freedom because of their gender. 📢 Take Action: Share this post, raise awareness, and support organizations fighting for Afghan women’s rights. Together, we can amplify their voices and push for global accountability. #EndGenderApartheid #WomenLifeFreedom #AfghanWomenMatter #HumanRightsForAll

Standing in Solidarity with Afghan Women This powerful image speaks volumes about the courage of Afghan women fighting for their fundamental rights: #Right, #Justice, #Education. Despite the immense challenges and restrictions imposed by the Taliban, these women are raising their voices, reminding the world of the universal right to education and equality. Denying women access to education is not just a local injustice—it’s a global issue that affects progress, humanity, and the future. We must amplify their voices and stand in solidarity with them. Education is a right, not a privilege, and empowering women uplifts entire societies. Let’s continue to advocate for change, support their resilience, and work toward a world where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to learn and thrive. #EducationForAll #Equality #HumanRights #Afghanistan

Now as always it is the women & girls of Afghanistan who pay the disproportionate price for the folly & misadventures of Afghanistan’s leaders & the foreign powers who manipulate them. And now as always it is the critical voices of Afghan women who are excluded from the discussions & negotiations that determine their futures and their families’. @UNWomen has no greater purpose & responsibility than to ensure that women are guaranteed voice and agency and are included in the processes and decisions that determine their future. The voices Afghan women & civil society must be included in #Doha3

"The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is dire." "Since that time, the Taliban has systematically targeted the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls, via a tightly woven patchwork of decrees, policies, and practices. This litany of edicts continues to dictate attire, curtail freedom of mobility, and restrict access to education and professional opportunities – effectively erasing the voices and perspectives of women and girls from public spaces and impeding realization of their inherent human rights. Key international actors – including UN Member States, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, and the Chair of the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls – have used terms such as ‘gender apartheid’ to describe the dynamic prevailing on the ground. To its core, the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is dire." #EndGenderApartheidInAfghanistan #LetAfghanGirlsLearn #Sheneverforgetandneverforgive #Afghanwomen #StandwithAfghanWomen #Women_Peace_And_Security #WomenHealth #WomenInLeadership #WomenAndClimateCrises #GenderEquality #Justice #RoleOfLaw #Afghanistan #HumanRights #SDGs

Fixing Gender: The Paradoxical Politics of Training Peacekeepers by Aiko Holvikivi, PhD (LSE Department of Gender Studies and LSE Centre for Women Peace and Security), published by Oxford University Press examines how #GenderTraining in #peacekeeping settings both reinforces and challenges institutional power dynamics. Though it under-examines Global South contexts, this is an original and essential feminist study of the potential and constraints of gender training within military institutions, writes Jocelyn (Jie) Xu (University of York) in her #review.