The fourth day of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) highlighted the dire circumstances women face under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, described as an entrenched system of “gender apartheid.” This term underscores the Taliban’s systematic marginalization of Afghan women through legal and societal mechanisms. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, reported on the dismantling of justice institutions, noting the eradication of women from judicial roles and the enforcement of a new penal code, which permits domestic violence under certain conditions.
This perspective was further reinforced by Zarqa Yaftali from the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation, who criticized the Afghan courts for existing solely to control women, while Amnesty International’s Metra Mehran highlighted the breadth of decrees stripping women of their rights. Hanifa Girowal, representing Women’s Rights First, highlighted the punitive measures against women for actions such as visiting family without male permission. Calls were made for an independent investigative mechanism to uphold human rights in Afghanistan. Further details can be found here.
The session also turned attention to the broader issue of women’s underrepresentation in political life globally. Rosemary DiCarlo of the UN outlined the slow progress toward gender parity in parliamentary seats, noting a rise from 11.6% in 1995 to 27.2% today. However, achieving true parity remains a long-term goal, with women frequently facing political violence and harassment. Alexander De Croo of the UN Development Programme argued that behavior, rather than legislation, needs to change to encourage truly inclusive political climates.
Local and international efforts to improve gender representation were highlighted, including successful initiatives in Libya, Ecuador, and Kenya. Martha Guerrero, Mayor of West Sacramento, shared a local success story of gender-balanced leadership improving community-focused policies. In Spain, Minister Eva Menor pointed to legislation mandating female representation rates, though she warned against complacency, emphasizing the fragility of such progress.
Speakers across sessions advocated for constitutional reforms, enforceable quotas, and funding mechanisms to ensure that strides toward gender parity are sustainable and substantive. Women are seeking solutions beyond symbolic representation, aiming to employ political roles as tools for economic and community improvement.