Four women’s rights activists will address the Human Rights Commission session of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, focusing on the plight of women in Afghanistan.
Heather Barr, the Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, stated that the activists will urge the U.S. to support efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for crimes against Afghan women and girls. She described the session as an opportunity to remind the U.S. of its commitment to Afghan women and girls.
Barr told Amu that Human Rights Watch will also discuss Afghan women’s demands for the recognition of “gender apartheid” by states. One recommendation from the organization is to make the office of Rina Amiri, the special envoy for human rights and Afghan women and girls, permanent.
The session will feature Amiri, Barr, and two Afghan women’s rights activists: Meetra Mehran and Waheeda Amiri. Barr described the session as pivotal in setting expectations for U.S. policy towards women and girls, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election.
“We will discuss ways the U.S. government can support efforts to hold the Taliban accountable, possibly through the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court,” Barr said. Human Rights Watch will offer recommendations, including the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime under international law.
“The hearing is crucial to remind the United States of the promises made to Afghan women, which are currently unmet,” she added.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, severe restrictions have been imposed on Afghan women and girls, depriving them of basic rights, including access to education and work. Last week, the U.S. Congress Human Rights Commission noted that the situation for Afghan women and girls has significantly worsened since August 2021.
