Pathways To Justice : Rights of Afghan Women and Girls Women, Peace, and Security

Internationally Acclaimed ,Worlds Record Holder and Multi National and State Awards Winner Mayaa SH connected on high-level CSW69 (Commission on the Status of Women), side event on Afghan women’s rights, education, and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Featuring Afghan women leaders and experts, the discussion addressed the challenges they face, the impact of their exclusion on stability, and pathways to fight for their rights and access to education.

The high-premiered event emphasized the crucial role of women in promoting stability, peace, and security in Afghanistan . Through a panel discussion featuring Afghan women leaders, policymakers, and experts in peace and security , the event shed light on the devastating consequences of systematically excluding women from Afghan society—not just for them but for future generations of girls and boys. It also examined strategies to ensure Afghan women have access to education.

Among the speakers: Habiba Sarabi, Pashtana Durrani, Dr. Mirwais Balkhi, Richard Bennett, Dhivya O'Connor,  Lamar Zala Gran. WIIS Italy were represented by its President, Loredana Teodorescu.The event served as a platform to mobilize policy commitments, funding, and advocacy to protect Afghan women's rights. The event was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations, the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Women in International Security (WIIS) Italy, GIWPS, Harvard College Women’s Center, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).Opening Remarks were by H.E. Mr. Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan's Chargé d'Affaires Permanent Mission to the United Nations,H.E. Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations ,H.E. Ambassador Gianluca Greco, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations,H.E. Ambassador Adela Raz, Last Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States and the United Nations (respectively), and Director of Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs,H.E. Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security,Dr. Loredana Teodorescu, President of Women in International Security - Italy,Dr. Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues/Head, Gender Issues Programme and Lina Tori Jan, Assistant Director, Harvard College Women's Center.The Panelists included: Dr. Habiba Sarabi, Former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Governor of Bamyan Province, and member of the Negotiation Team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,Dr. Mohammad Mirwais Balkhi, Former Minister of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghanistan Policy Lab Affiliate,Pashtana Durrani, Co-Founder and Managing Director of LEARN,Lamar Zala Gran, Founder and President, Empower Afghan Women Nonprofit Organization .The Moderator was : Dhivya O’Connor, CEO of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.This event brought together prominent Afghan women leaders, peace advocates, and WPS experts in discussing the impact of Taliban policies on Afghan women’s rights and their ability to contribute to stability and peace,exploring the direct link between women’s participation and Afghanistan’s long-term security and governance,highlighting the challenges in accessing education, particularly ways to overcome and mitigate these barriers.

As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is commemorated in 2025, the plight of Afghan women and girls stands as a stark reminder of our collective struggle for gender equality. For over three years, the Taliban’s systematic repression has stripped Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights, including the right to education, barring them from secondary and higher education. This has not only stifled their individual potential but has also jeopardized Afghanistan’s long-term peace, security, and development.The Beijing Declaration affirms that education is a cornerstone for gender equality, poverty eradication, and sustainable development, calling for the removal of systemic barriers that prevent girls from learning. Likewise, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda underscores that sustainable peace is impossible without the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of society. Compounding these challenges, climate change(external link) has disproportionately affected Afghan women, particularly those heading households, by worsening food insecurity, malnutrition, and displacement. Prolonged droughts and extreme weather events have eroded traditional livelihoods, intensifying women’s vulnerability and limiting their access to essential services. The deliberate exclusion of Afghan women and girls from education and public life, coupled with the climate crisis, is not just a violation of their rights—it is a grave threat to Afghanistan’s security and stability while setting a dangerous precedent for gender equality worldwide.This milestone anniversary offers a critical moment for global action. The international community must reaffirm its commitment to both the Beijing Declaration and the WPS agenda by ensuring their support for Afghan women and girls to reclaim their fundamental rights.

It called for urgent global support to amplify their voices, prioritize their future on the international agenda, and ensure Afghanistan's sustainable peace and development are achieved with women leading the way.The high-level event was held in New York at the UN Headquarters and it was joined virtually all across with women rights campaigners and activists like Mayaa SH with the event being live-streamed .

Description :

As we mark 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this event will explore the persistent challenges facing Afghan women and girls and their broader implications for gender equality. Discussions will examine the role of education in advancing equality and development, and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda’s emphasis on women’s full participation in all aspects of society. The event will also address how climate change has worsened these challenges, particularly for women-headed households facing food insecurity, malnutrition, and displacement due to worsening droughts and extreme weather.

The deliberate exclusion of Afghan women and girls from education and public life is a grave threat to Afghanistan's stability, undermining efforts to rebuild the nation. Furthermore, climate change has intensified these challenges, particularly for women-headed households facing food insecurity, malnutrition, and displacement due to worsening droughts and extreme weather events. Without urgent intervention, generations of Afghan women and girls' risk being permanently erased from society, with devastating consequences for the country's future.

Women in Afghanistan are banned from attending secondary schools and universities, making Afghanistan the only country where girls cannot pursue education beyond primary school. This ban has led to a generation of girls being denied basic educational opportunities.Women are prohibited from working in most sectors, including international NGOs and the United Nations, except for limited roles in healthcare and primary education. This restriction has exacerbated economic hardships for families reliant on women’s incomes.Women must be accompanied by a male guardian (mahram) when leaving their homes. They face harassment and potential punishment if they do not comply with strict dress codes requiring full-body coverings.Reports indicate an increase in gender-based violence, including forced marriages and domestic abuse, with little to no legal recourse available for victims due to the dismantling of support systems established under previous governments.

The exclusion of women from education, employment, and healthcare in Afghanistan has profound and far-reaching consequences that affect not only the women themselves but also their families, communities, and the nation as a whole. The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education have led to a significant shortage of female healthcare professionals. With women barred from studying in medical institutes, the future supply of female doctors, nurses, and midwives is severely compromised. This is particularly critical in a country where cultural norms often dictate that women prefer to receive care from female practitioners due to modesty concerns.The lack of access to qualified female healthcare providers exacerbates maternal and child mortality rates, which are already among the highest globally.Excluding women from education translates into significant economic losses for Afghanistan. UNICEF estimates that depriving girls of secondary education costs the Afghan economy approximately 2.5% of its annual GDP. If Afghan women were allowed to participate fully in the workforce after receiving an education, they could contribute an estimated $5.4 billion annually to the economy. The loss of this potential workforce hampers economic recovery and growth.

The international community has a profound responsibility to support Afghan women in reclaiming their fundamental rights, particularly in the context of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and systemic violations of women’s rights under Taliban rule. This responsibility is rooted in several key principles and frameworks established by international law, human rights treaties, and global commitments to gender equality.

Historical Context and Legal Frameworks

International Treaties and Commitments:

Afghanistan ratified several key international treaties that protect women’s rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2003. This treaty obligates states to eliminate discrimination against women in all forms and to ensure their equal participation in public life, education, health care, and employment. The Taliban’s current policies directly contravene these obligations.The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security emphasizes the importance of women’s participation in peace processes and decision-making. It recognizes the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and calls for their protection. The Taliban’s exclusionary practices violate these principles.The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire; two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian assistance as food insecurity escalates. Women-led households are disproportionately affected by poverty and malnutrition, leading many families to resort to forced marriages as a means of survival. The international community must address these urgent needs while advocating for women’s rights.

To ensure the inclusion of Afghan women in humanitarian, social, and economic frameworks, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This involves collaboration between local communities, international organizations, and governments to create sustainable opportunities for Afghan women. Need for the hour is boldly advocate for policies that promote gender equality within humanitarian aid and development programs. This includes lobbying for the inclusion of women in decision-making processes at all levels of governance and ensuring that their voices are heard in discussions about aid distribution and community rebuilding.Ensuring access to education for girls and women, including support for underground schools where formal education is restricted. International donors should fund educational initiatives that prioritize female students and provide resources such as books, materials, and trained female teachers.Providing legal support services to help Afghan women shall navigate legal systems, especially concerning issues like marriage rights, property ownership, domestic violence protection, and access to justice.By implementing these concrete actions collectively through local engagement and international support, it is possible to create an inclusive framework that empowers Afghan women socially, economically, and politically while addressing their immediate needs amid ongoing challenges.Addressing the intersecting challenges of climate change, security and Afghan women’s participation in shaping the region’s long-term sustainable peace and development is urgent .Providing concrete recommendations for international actors to support Afghan women’s effort to education, ensuring their full participation in society is a mandate now.

About Mayaa SH

Mayaa SH is a prominent figure in India, known for her extensive work in women's rights and empowerment. She has received numerous prestigious awards dedicated in the service of women and the country .Mayaa SH is a multifaceted individual, serving as an authoress, podcaster, educator, mentor for women, motivational speaker, and a proponent of gender equality. She is also a suicide prevention expert and an advisor on family law. Her work challenges stereotypes surrounding women and emphasizes the importance of self-belief and motivation.In addition to her advocacy for women's rights, Mayaa SH is a celebrated poetess, essayist, and social thinker. Her writings and campaigns for gender equality have earned her multiple state and national awards, as well as global recognition as a world record holder. She has co-authored more than two hundred anthologies and written fourteen self help solo books.Mayaa SH's contributions to society extend to mental health and suicide prevention, as well as her efforts to combat human trafficking and support acid attack survivors. Her dedication to uplifting women and addressing critical societal issues has made her a transformative figure in the realm of women's empowerment.Mayaa SH is a multifaceted individual deeply involved in social activism, particularly concerning women's rights and empowerment. She is a strong advocate for women's rights, working to break down societal stereotypes and promote self-belief.Her work focuses on empowering women to achieve their full potential and challenge patriarchal norms.Mayaa SH is recognized for her contributions to social justice and equality in India.She addresses various social issues and works to create positive change in her community.She is an accomplished authoress, writer, and poetess, using her literary talents to raise awareness about important social issues.Her works frequently focus on realistic social issues.She is known for works that tackle subjects such as feminism, and mental health awareness.She is an expert in suicide prevention and promotes mental health awareness.She uses talking as a form of remedial navigation for people that are experiencing stress, and fear.Mayaa SH has received numerous national and international awards for her contributions.These awards highlight her dedication to social justice and her impact on society.In essence, Mayaa SH is a dedicated social activist and writer who works tirelessly to empower women and promote social justice.

Mayaa SH has made significant contributions to addressing mental health issues, particularly those arising from toxic relationships. Her extensive work focuses on empowering individuals, especially women, to recognize and navigate the complexities of their emotional well-being in the context of unhealthy relationships.Toxic relationships are characterized by behaviors that are emotionally or physically damaging to one partner. They often involve manipulation, control, and a lack of support, leading to detrimental effects on mental health. Mayaa SH emphasizes the importance of recognizing these toxic dynamics as a critical first step toward healing.One of Mayaa SH’s primary objectives is to raise awareness about the signs and impacts of toxic relationships. She conducts workshops and seminars aimed at educating individuals about the psychological effects of such relationships, including increased anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem. By highlighting these issues, she encourages victims to seek help and understand that they are not alone in their struggles.A key aspect of  Mayaa SH’s work is promoting self-advocacy among survivors of toxic relationships. She encourages individuals to reclaim their voices and assert their rights within personal relationships. This empowerment is crucial for breaking free from cycles of abuse and fostering a sense of agency over one’s life choices.