The Afghan Women Movement is about recognizing women’s identity. The movement started with a taboo breaking campaign #whereismyname back in 2017. Even though the Afghan women succeeded in altering the legislation, the advent of the Tabilan government has reversed the efforts.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they have regularly issued orders that systematically eliminate Afghan women from practicing their basic human rights. The Taliban government issued 80 edicts, among which 54 directly targeted women’s rights.
They have issued orders that have restricted women’s access to social, political and economic rights. Moreover, women are unable to practice their rights as health professionals, teachers, Professors, Legislators, and business women.
The Background Story of the Afghan Women Movement
The Afghan women started a fight that most of us take for granted. They started a campaign for the right to be referred to by their own names on the official documents.
Women in Afghanistan are seen as a property of male family members. Hence, they are not allowed to mention their names on their birth certificates, identity cards, medical prescriptions, wedding cards, and even on their graves. The things that most of us might not even assume a right to be fought for!
Traditionally, revealing the names of women in public is considered a shame. To avoid insult and shame many Afghan men mention the relation instead of the names of their female family members. Such as women are referred to as the daughter or sister of XYZ male or mother or aunt of ABC.
It is because of this basic human right the identity of women doesn’t appear in public records. With no identity, they are deprived of many rights. They are not part of social, political, economic and legal policies. It is also a reason that women can’t travel without their fathers or husbands. Their freedom is restricted in many ways.
#WhereIsMyName Campaign
Afghan women started a campaign to fight for their rights. The campaign sloganed as “Where Is My Name?” was initiated by Laleh Osmany in 2017, which made worldwide headlines within a week.
After three years of struggle, the Afghan Women’s Movement achieved its goal. In 2021, The President of Afghanistan Mr. Ashraf Ghani signed an amendment that allowed mothers’ names to be mentioned on their children’s birth certificates.
This was a big achievement because previously only fathers’ names were allowed on the birth certificate of a child. The amendment was the first step toward gender equality and women’s rights.
However, as the Taliban government took over things drastically changed. All the efforts that gave women a sense of freedom and showed a light of hope have been reversed.
The Current Situation
When the Taliban took over the government in August 2021 they acted to impose a mild restriction by ordering women to stay in their homes. The reason that backed this order was that “their soldiers were not trained to see women outside homes and to respect women”.
However, this then seemed temporary restriction soon expanded and turned harsher overtime. It turned out to be an absolute imprisonment for women to stay at home behind the walls.
Women who showed resistance and participated in protests faced some serious consequences. Violation of orders from de facto authorities (DFA) faced enforced disappearance, punishment, torture, and arbitrary detention.
At the movement the Afghan women seek support from the international community to stand for their rights. Unfortunately, the international community has failed to act. Consequently, the policies of the Taliban government to deliberately segregate, oppress, and discriminate against women are getting harsher day by day.