How to Speak Up for Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Last August when I woke up to the news that Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban rule, my heart shattered. Faces of Afghan women and girls floated through my mind as I wondered what their futures held. I feared what little progress had been made over the past two decades would be decimated under the rule of the Taliban. And indeed it has.

As I drive my oldest son to school, I ponder how something commonplace can be denied mothers in Afghanistan. Women in Afghanistan aren’t allowed to drive, much less step foot outside their door without a male escort. While my son could qualify as an escort, once I drop him off at school I’d be in violation of being in public without male representation.

According to Richard Bennett, a Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban declared girls’ education would end after elementary school and are “making women invisible in society.” The Taliban are making their priorities clear: women and girls have no public role in the society they wish to shape.

“In one of the poorest countries in the world, a country where children are regularly victims of explosive remains of war, a country still battling polio, not a campaign against hunger, explosives, disease, but one against women,” tweeted Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson for Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

In a country that wishes to silence women and girls, the world is faced with a problem. How do we stand up for those whose voices are trying to be hushed? But a bigger issue casts its shadow over the world. Do we care? Or will we continue on with our lives claiming we tried, but couldn’t figure it out?

If it was our daughters who couldn’t attend middle school, we would be outraged. If we couldn’t drive ourselves to pick up groceries from Target, we would be angered. If our sisters were required to cover their entire faces in public, we’d be upset. But when it’s half a world away in a land ravaged by wave after wave of war, we shrug our shoulders. And with this lackadaisical response, we participate in the silencing of women and girls in Afghanistan.

WALKING ALONGSIDE AFGHAN WOMEN AND GIRLS

As Christians, we are exhorted to speak up for and to “defend the rights” of those who need help (Prov. 31:8, 9). While Afghan women aren’t helpless, they need others to show care for them as they walk through another dark chapter in their country’s history. As we understand from our own experiences, knowing we are not alone as we encounter turbulent times is instrumental in moving forward and holding onto hope.

The Bible teaches that both men and women are created in the image of God—one gender is not more valuable than the other. In Proverbs 31, the value a woman brings to a society and community is beautifully displayed. We want to remind Afghans, ourselves, and others of the incredible worth these ladies have, but aren’t currently experiencing in their homeland.

Afghan women are hardy and can teach the Western world much about resiliency. Many have lived through the first reign of Taliban terror, some even fleeing with the clothes on their back for the border. Most women have buried husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles from the never-ending war. Despite the instability, heartache, and chaos, they still can laugh over a cup of green tea with neighbors.

But we can support these women and girls in the dusty, rocky land of Afghanistan. We can take an active role in ensuring they know we see, value, and care about them. Here are five ways we can walk alongside Afghan women and girls:

5 WAYS TO SPEAK UP

1) Cultivate a connection to Afghan women and girls. When story headlines remain abstract, we are more prone to scroll past. But if we learn about the lives, culture, and stories of these ladies, we will be more likely to track with what’s transpiring because we care on a deeper level. For adults, I recommend reading In the Land of Blue Burqas. For kids, consider listening to the audiobook I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) for ages 10 and up.

2) Spend time praying for Afghan women and girls. Consider utilizing these short stories with prayer prompts to guide your time. As we increase our understanding about the lives of Afghan women and girls, we can better pray for them.

 3) Follow organizations or individuals on social media channels such as Shaharzad Akbar, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett, UN Women Afghanistan, or UNDP Afghanistan. These organizations and individuals can help us track with what’s going on in Afghanistan and how women are being impacted by the current government. When something catches your eye, be sure to post about it to your network to raise awareness.

4) Support organizations providing assistance to Afghan women and girls. These groups provide tangible assistance to those who need it in country.

5) Build relationships with Afghan refugees. Many Afghans have relocated to the US. Consider reaching out to a local refugee resettlement agency to see if you can help refugees transition to life in America. As you meet Afghans, ask questions about their lives and seek to gain their perspective on what’s transpiring in their homeland.

We can affirm the worth of Afghan women and girls and stand up to the forces that strive to mute their voices. We can choose to cultivate love for a people and land we may never meet or step foot in because we know our God is a God who sees and looks after (Gen. 16:13) every woman around the globe. And if God cares, then we should, too.