Dear John,

The just-released United Nations (UN) report exposes the Taliban's brutal gender-based system of discrimination, exclusion, and oppression against Afghan women and girls.

The Taliban's relentless issuance of over 100 edicts since August 2021 when they seized power in Afghanistan has decimated women's rights, restricting their access to education, employment, and basic freedoms, including freedom of movement. Women and girls are not free to travel alone and are not able to leave their homes without a close male family member and only when “absolutely” necessary. Afghan women are excluded politically, educationally, socially, and even culturally.  These are crimes against humanity, and we must not— and will not - let the world ignore this horrid assault on women and girls.

We cannot be silent. Afghan women and girls have fought hard for their rights. They continue to fight despite the risks to their lives. Many have been killed or disappeared. Some in their despair worry that the world has forgotten them. You, more than most, have already clearly demonstrated –both through your previous acts of support and loyal commitment –that you care deeply about the women and girls of Afghanistan. 

And now, I’m not only urging you to read the recent UN Report on the Taliban Gender Apartheid [you can download it here] but to share this email with your friends and colleagues and alert them to the brutality of this war of oppression against Afghan women and girls.

Then please, if at all possible, send an Emergency Action email urging the US and UN to continue their non-recognition of the Taliban until they end Gender Apartheid and their crimes against humanity.

We must make sure this powerfully written and thoroughly researched UN Report does not gather dust. It must be acted on. Immediately. And it’s up to each of us to make sure Gender Apartheid’s horrors are not swept under the rug and repeated elsewhere in the world.

Here are the UN Report Highlights:

The Taliban’s demand of excluding Afghan women and the issue of women’s rights from any meeting is unacceptable, especially in meetings of the UN and Special Envoys for Afghanistan. We demand the UN reject the Taliban’s conditions and prioritize the situation of human rights and women’s rights.

Our Demands:

Ignoring the plight of Afghan women emboldens the Taliban and undermines global human rights standards. This fight transcends Afghanistan’s borders and affects us all. The UN must outlaw Gender Apartheid internationally and deny the Taliban international recognition until it ends its brutal system of Gender Apartheid.

So far, no country has officially recognized the Taliban regime, but over a dozen have exchanged diplomats and officials with the Taliban de-facto authorities.

Since the Taliban returned, poverty has been at its peak. Of its 40 million people some 20 million Afghans are experiencing dire hunger due to high unemployment rates, extreme drought, and women not being allowed by the Taliban to earn a living. Suicide rates and mental health crises have skyrocketed, mostly affecting women and young girls who are not allowed to seek education beyond sixth grade or leave their homes.

We must stand in solidarity with Afghan women and girls and not allow the normalization of the Taliban – or even worse – to allow the recognition of the Taliban regime that will continue its crimes against women and girls and serve as role models to terrorist groups around the world.

Your unwavering support has been crucial. Let’s intensify our efforts and stand together with Afghan women to defend their rights and futures.   We cannot be silent. 

Thank you for your commitment.

In solidarity for freedom and equality,

Ellie

P.S.  Again, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve already done to help save lives and give hope to Afghan women through your support. But I have to ask you again to help, by sending a letter of support to the UN to continue their non-recognition and efforts to end Gender Apartheid.  Now is the time for us all to press as hard as we can.