A United Front Against Gender Apartheid
On June 25, 2025, the international community took a critical step forward in responding to the worsening human rights crisis in Afghanistan. A high-level international conference was held in London, organized by Defenders of Equality, Freedom, and Advancement for Women (DEFAW). The event brought together over 50 women’s rights defenders, exiled activists, legal experts, and civil society leaders.
The conference culminated in the release of a Joint Declaration demanding that the systematic exclusion of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban be recognized and prosecuted under international law as gender apartheid—a crime against humanity.
Key Message of the Declaration
The joint statement denounced the Taliban’s repressive policies that have:
Banned girls and women from attending school and universities
Prevented women from working in national and international NGOs
Erased women from political, social, and economic participation
Criminalized peaceful protest, media voices, and women’s organizing efforts
The declaration called on all governments, international institutions, and legal bodies to recognize these actions as structural and systemic violations of international human rights law, with lasting impacts on generations of Afghan women.
It further called for:
Formal recognition of gender apartheid as a distinct international crime
International prosecution and accountability mechanisms
Inclusion of Afghan women in all diplomatic, humanitarian, and peacebuilding processes regarding Afghanistan’s future
Stronger support for women-led movements in exile and inside Afghanistan
Generation Outside Afghanistan’s Role
Generation Outside Afghanistan was proud to be an official partner and endorsing organization of this historic declaration. By standing alongside feminist leaders from around the world, Generation reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to:
Justice for Afghan women and girls
International solidarity with protest and resistance movements
The advancement of legal, political, and institutional frameworks to combat gender-based persecution
Why This Matters Now
The Taliban’s actions are not isolated or accidental—they form a coherent system of oppression based on gender discrimination and theocratic control. For nearly four years, Afghan women have been subjected to one of the most extreme regimes of gender-based exclusion in modern history.
This conference marks a turning point: from documentation and denunciation to legal action and collective strategy.
Conclusion
The London Gender Apartheid Conference organized by DEFAW signals a growing consensus: the world cannot normalize or ignore the erasure of half a population. The fight for Afghan women’s rights is a global responsibility—and a moral test of the international community’s commitment to human dignity and justice.
The voices of Afghan women will not be silenced. They will be heard—in courtrooms, in parliaments, and in every space where decisions are made about the future of Afghanistan.
