As the world marks the International Day of Peace on September 21, Afghan human rights activists have criticized the Taliban for failing to establish the fundamental conditions for peace in Afghanistan, three years after the group regained control of the country.
This year’s theme, “Our Common Future is Peace,” focuses on promoting unity and peace through street art, according to the United Nations. But in Afghanistan, peace remains elusive. Afghans continue to face not only physical insecurity but also severe social and psychological hardship, compounded by the Taliban’s disregard for citizens’ rights, activists say.
Human rights advocates argue that the Taliban has done little to ensure lasting peace. “When people talk about peace, they mean security, prosperity, and comfort. However, our country has neither security, nor prosperity, nor comfort. On the contrary, people—especially women and girls—have lost all their human rights,” said Narges Sadat, a human rights activist.
Instead of fostering an environment conducive to peace, the Taliban has imposed strict and repressive policies, particularly against women and girls, barring them from education and work, and stripping away many of their basic rights.
Marking the day on social media, the U.S. Embassy for Afghanistan, now operating in exile, expressed hope that collective efforts may bring lasting peace to Afghanistan. However, some Afghan women’s rights advocates remain skeptical. “Recognizing the Taliban means endorsing extremism, terrorism, killings, and discriminatory laws based on gender and sexuality,” said a member of a women’s rights movement. “The international community must avoid legitimizing the Taliban in any form.”
Many Afghan women accuse global leaders of neglecting their plight. For them, life under Taliban rule is neither safe nor peaceful. A recent U.N. quarterly report on Afghanistan revealed that the country experienced over 2,100 security incidents in the past three months alone, highlighting the ongoing instability.
Rahmatullah Bejanpoor, a university lecturer, suggested that peace in Afghanistan could only be achieved through the formation of an inclusive government that represents all people. “By creating a broad government with inclusive principles based on social realities, Afghanistan can move toward peace,” he said.
The International Day of Peace was first established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, with the goal of promoting non-violence and cease-fire. But for many Afghans, achieving peace has long remained a distant hope, as decades of conflict continue to overshadow their lives.
