MADRID— Fawzia Koofi, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament and an advocate for women’s rights, at a women’s conference in Spain on Friday praised Afghan women for their resilience in the face of adversity, stating they have demonstrated their strength to the world despite ongoing injustices.
“When a glass breaks, its shards become sharper. These women, like shattered glass, have become sharp enough to resist oppression and injustice,” she said.
She emphasized that Afghan women continue to seek international support for their cause, urging the global community not to abandon them during this critical time.
David Sproule, Canada’s special envoy for Afghanistan, also addressed the gathering, calling for the use of international legal mechanisms to counter the Taliban. He underscored that the Taliban’s priorities lie in their self-interest, not the welfare of the Afghan people, and particularly not the country’s women.
“What really matters to the Taliban leadership is not the well-being of the Afghan people or Afghan women. It’s their personal interests,” Mr. Sproule said, citing their desire for unrestricted international travel as an example.
Mr. Sproule highlighted ongoing international efforts to hold the Taliban accountable, including referring Afghanistan’s situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). “One of the latest initiatives involves pursuing violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). So far, four countries have started this process,” he said.
He added that providing more evidence to the ICC and its prosecutors remains a priority, expressing hope that these efforts would yield tangible results in the near future.
“These actions are essential to sending a clear message to the Taliban and demonstrating the global community’s commitment to human rights,” Mr. Sproule said.
The conference underscored the ongoing plight of Afghan women, who continue to demand justice and equality while urging the world to uphold its promises of support.
