One year on from the vice and virtue laws in Afghanistan
Dear John,
Last July, the Taliban introduced a wave of new restrictions on Afghan women’s freedom. These laws, tackling the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”, sought to police women’s dress, movements outside the home, speech, and behaviour.
They have been enforced through public punishments and arrests. A pervasive sense of fear stopped people from protesting or resisting.
We refuse to stand by as Afghan women are pushed further into the shadows. Please donate to support our campaign, if you can, to stand with Afghan women so they don't have to face these challenges alone.
A year on from the increased restrictions, how are Afghan women coping?
We recently partnered with Farageer, an Afghan women's rights organisation in exile in Canada, to interview over 200 women across 20 provinces of Afghanistan.
Women spoke of living under constant threat, their autonomy, voices, and visibility taken away. Dreams of education or careers are fading, and even simple joys—playing sports, walking in the park—are denied. Each day is shaped by fear, uncertainty, and a sense that hope is slowly disappearing.
Armed with these powerful testimonies, we’re using our position to push for justice for Afghan women and girls. For governments to recognise gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
But perhaps most crucially we are trying to increase funding to women-led groups in Afghanistan. To provide more jobs at home and learning opportunities for Afghan women and girls. To support virtual spaces for mental health, education, and resistance.
This August, to mark four years since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, we're aiming to raise £10,000 to support our work ensuring Afghan women and girls are not left behind. We are in regular touch with women’s rights activists to work around the restrictions and find ways to continue reaching women and girls.
Afghan women are battling to sustain hope every single day. News that Russia has recognised the Taliban leaves them feeling their situation will not improve.
Give what you can today to send a message that Afghan women have not been forgotten.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Martina Hoggart
Director of Fundraising & Marketing Womankind Worldwide
Header image: royalty-free image by Associated Press (credit: Ebrahim Noroozi)
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