Afghan women and kids we abandoned are in crisis, but it's not hopeless if we act quickly

Nearly six months since the completion of the international withdrawal from Afghanistan, Afghan women and girls have seen a steady elimination of their rights and status within society.

The news cycle has moved on. Taliban oppression has not.

As the crisis in Ukraine and the Beijing Olympics divert attention from the ongoing circumstances in Afghanistan, global solidarity for Afghan women is critical. The situation, while dire, is not hopeless if the international community acts quickly.

A majority of female secondary students still wait on a return to school. Women across most sectors are prohibited from pursuing their livelihoods and providing for their families. Women cannot travel long distances without a male escort. They are banned from appearing in most forms of entertainment media.  

Taliban’s attempt to erase women from public life

Even access to basic hygiene has been restricted – women are now barred from utilizing public bath houses in certain areas, impacting the well-being of some of the poorest communities in the country.

Most concerning, the price paid for defying the restrictions on women and girls is especially horrific.

Harassment. Beatings. Abductions. Detention. Death.

These are the realities faced by the courageous activists who defy the Taliban’s attempt to erase women from public life.

Selling their organs and their children

There is no denying that the circumstances are incredibly complex. But amid the larger impasse and need for solutions, there are tangible actions that can be taken today to demonstrate our solidarity with Afghan women and children.

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First, the global community can’t look away. You can’t identify as a feminist and remain silent on what’s happening in Afghanistan. Afghan women are fighting for their existence. And amid the catastrophic circumstances in country, women and children are shouldering most of the burden of hunger and poverty. Some parents have already faced the unimaginable choice of selling their organs and their children just to feed their families.

As much as the Taliban try to deflect the truth, these realities are not secret. On a daily basis, brave Afghans capture the repression and desperation they face. Tamana Paryani documented on video the very moment the Taliban came for her and her sisters at their home. She, her sisters and fellow protester Parwana Ibrahimkhel have not been seen since.

Influencers everywhere must do a better job of lifting the voices of Afghan women far and wide. Afghan women and the organizations working on their behalf must have an equal seat at decision-making tables. Governments and international organizations must hold the Taliban to account for their continued violation of human rights. We have seen before what happens when Afghan women aren’t included in consistent and meaningful ways in dialogue and diplomacy. Let’s not repeat the same mistakes. 

Expand resettlement pathways for at-risk Afghans

Second, governments, the private sector and individual donors must increase support for those who continue to push forward on behalf of the most vulnerable.

To help, the United Nations has launched the largest ever humanitarian appeal for any single country. Institutions like UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Program are doing tremendous work to meet basic needs and keep critical infrastructure such as health care afloat.

Afghanistan: Afghan refugees needed help. Americans stepped up to say, 'Welcome to your new home.'

Likewise, community-led efforts continue to have tenacity and impact. Organizations like the Afghan Institute of Learning, Razia’s Ray of Hope, Code to Inspire and others remain innovative and agile, never losing sight of their focus on their country’s future. But to keep doing the hard work, they require more resources to meet ever-growing community needs. While serious quandaries remain (and solutions very needed), creativity and collaboration have shown that we can support those reaching vulnerable populations without releasing funds via the Taliban, who cannot be trusted.

Third, pathways to safety must be expanded for at-risk Afghans. Educators, prosecutors, policewomen, military members and so many other Afghan women remain at serious risk of reprisal because of their commitment to freedom, democracy and the inherent dignity of all – ideals we as Americans and much of the world hold in the highest regard.

In many instances, however, these women still fall outside the narrow requirements for most resettlement programs across the Global North.

While the situation grows more desperate daily, especially for women and children, one of the most important things each of us can do right now to support them is to bear witness to the atrocities being committed. Sustained action is also essential, but it won't be easy. Regardless, we must ensure that Afghans have the meaningful representation, resources and resettlement pathways most immediately needed.

 As Afghan women always do, they will push forward. We owe them our support.

Natalie Gonnella-Platts serves as the director of the Women's Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute.