Recognition of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan Justified

Author: Metra Mehran

The Taliban regime exemplifies a systemic analogy to apartheid, where institutionalized gender-based discrimination and segregation have resulted in severe marginalization and exclusion of women, comparable to apartheid South Africa. Drawing on Article II of the Apartheid Convention as the primary reference, this critical examination of the decrees issued by the Taliban since August 2021 reasons that their actions constitute “Inhumane Acts” and are in violation of international law, and provides evidence in support of legal and feminist efforts calling for the recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

This publication is part of a series highlighting the work and analysis of the Afghanistan Research Network (ARN), a project convened by LSE / PeaceRep, and the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). The network brings together over 20 Afghan researchers (and several non-Afghans) with diverse expertise and backgrounds investigating a range of issues. This project aims to support Afghan researchers who were recently forced to leave Afghanistan; to ensure expert and analytical provision; inform contextually-appropriate international policies and practices on Afghanistan; and to deepen understanding of evolving political, security, and economic dynamics.

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