Kabul: The ‘Doha Agreement between the US and Taliban’ has been criticised by Heather Barr, the associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW), for its lack of transparency and comprehensiveness. According to Barr, the agreement significantly marginalised Afghan women from any political engagement.
In a tweet, Barr accused Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, of undermining women’s rights in the Doha Agreement. She argued that sidelining women from crucial discussions about Afghanistan contradicted the principles outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Barr highlighted the 2020 Doha Agreement as an example of neglecting women’s rights in favour of a political settlement. She further stated that this agreement paved the way for the return of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, leading to the systematic violation of women’s rights since 2021.
Multiple media reports have previously documented the violation of the basic rights of Afghan women, including access to education, employment, and participation in political and social activities, by the Taliban regime. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, women in Afghanistan have faced numerous challenges. They have been denied education, employment opportunities, and the freedom to access public spaces.
The Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement for women and girls. They have disregarded international calls to provide education and employment opportunities for women and girls. The Taliban has also warned other nations against interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. Additionally, they have implemented policies barring girls from attending secondary school, restricting women’s freedom of movement, excluding women from the workforce, and prohibiting women from using public facilities such as parks, gyms, and bathhouses.
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