"We must give all possible support to Afghan women to regain their fundamental rights"

Mounir Satouri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, issued a statement on Tuesday after a meeting with Afghan politicians and activists on women’s rights.

The Subcommittee on Human Rights held a special meeting on Tuesday 17 September in Strasbourg with Afghan politicians and activists on women’s rights, followed by a press conference on the fate of women’s rights in Afghanistan.

After more than three years under the Taliban’s rule, Afghan women are in an extremely dire situation, with their fundamental rights being violated on an unprecedented scale.

After the meeting, Mounir Satouri (Greens/EFA, FR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights said: “Today we met with a group of remarkable Afghan women human rights defenders, who exemplify the fight of Afghan women against horrendous violations of their rights by the Taliban. We heard their testimonies and we deeply admire their strength and their commitment to that fight. Afghanistan is a place where half of society - women and girls - does not have a voice, with devastating consequences for their lives. But they do not give up, as we have heard again today. The EU therefore has a duty to give them every possible support and welcome them.”

Background

Afghan women are subjected to gender apartheid on a daily basis, facing draconian restrictions on their right to work, education and healthcare, and to simply exist in the public sphere. The recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” has made their situation even more precarious, taking away the right to use their voice in public spaces. However, Afghan women have not given up their fight and keep protesting against the restrictions, despite risking beatings, incarceration or even death for those opposing the Taliban’s regime. This constant oppression is also intertwined with widespread discrimination against Afghanistan's ethnic minorities.

Parliament will debate the topic in plenary on Wednesday 18 September and vote on a resolution on Thursday 19 September.

List of participants

- Shukria Barakzai, former Afghan MP and Ambassador to Norway, women’s rights activist in Afghanistan;

- Parwana Ibrahimkhail, founder of the Women's Movement for Peace and Freedom, and women's rights advocate;

- Parasto Yari, Afghan lawyer and activist, working in defence of women’s and minority rights;

- Farukh Leqa Unchizadah, President of the Women’s Rights Organization and recognised human rights activist in Afghanistan;

- Farzana Elham Kochai, former Afghan MP, women's and minority rights activist;

- Tahmina Salik, founder of Empowerment for Her, advocate for women's rights and empowerment.

For further information, contact Mr Mounir Satouri’s office: 0032 228 45521 mounir.satouri@europarl.europa.eu