“Today’s women firmly reject the fate of being condemned to the shadows of ignorance”

“When the Taliban returned to power, I lived in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. With my bachelor’s degree in journalism, I had a fulfilling career at the Ministry of Information and Culture prior to the Taliban’s resurgence. Throughout my career, I had worked tirelessly to shed light on the heinous crimes of the Taliban and ensured that they were reported in the relevant newspapers and various print media.  

In addition to my journalistic work, I was actively involved in media-related activities and led workshops as a member of civil society in cooperation with former regional governors. These workshops aimed to promote peace and peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups, with a particular focus on combating gender discrimination and fighting the deeply rooted culture of bias against women. 

When the Taliban returned to power, they closed all doors to women, and the once-abundant employment opportunities for women were forgotten. 

I’m also one of the women who have been deeply affected by very recent events. After committing three decades to a successful media career, I now lead a life as a housewife and have reluctantly given up my professional ambitions. In addition, my husband and son, both of whom served in the former government, now face an uncertain and unsafe future. They are forced to move from one region to another, struggling with unemployment and taking on various odd jobs to make ends meet.  

I have turned to sewing, tailoring and making various handmade products to contribute to our family’s modest income, while my former life as a journalist remains a distant memory.

We appeal to the United Nations, entrusted with the weighty responsibility of protecting the hard-won gains of Afghan women over two decades, to defend the rights of Afghan women with unwavering emphasis. We implore them to design and implement robust programmes that actively advocate for women’s rights, particularly in the area of justice, coordination of women and their mobilization to defend their legitimate claims.

We call for cooperation with various nations to demonstrate their unambiguous solidarity with Afghan women, who represent a strong bulwark against the injustices perpetrated by the Taliban. The path to equality and justice must be taken in the face of tremendous challenges.”