Afghanistan Declared the Most Oppressive Country for Women in Joint Statement by 16 Nations
On February 11, 2025, a meeting held in Canada brought together female foreign ministers from 16 countries and the European Union’s Special Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security. The meeting strongly condemned the ongoing oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. A joint statement was issued on February 15, 2025, addressing the worsening human rights situation in the country.
The meeting was attended by female foreign ministers from Andorra, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Jamaica, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Mongolia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the EU’s Special Representative. Discussions focused on various issues, including the dire state of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.
The joint statement stated that Today, female foreign ministers from around the world convened to discuss the Taliban’s systematic human rights violations and their impact on Afghan women and girls.
It emphasized that, following a historic meeting in Toronto in September 2024 hosted by Canada and Jamaica, the Taliban intensified restrictions on women’s rights. The statement highlighted that women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, and public participation has been systematically curtailed. It declared Afghanistan the most oppressive country for women—a grim reality the international community cannot ignore.
The ministers also condemned the Taliban’s ban on women pursuing medical education, issued in December 2024, and urged its immediate reversal. “If this decree is not lifted, Afghanistan risks losing an entire generation of female healthcare workers. In a society where women are expected to treat women, this jeopardizes the health of Afghan women and children,” the statement warned. It further pointed to Afghanistan’s already high maternal mortality rates as a serious concern.
The statement also stressed upon Afghanistan being the only country in the world where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education. It called this a personal tragedy for every Afghan girl and a collective blow to the country’s long-term development and stability.
The ministers urged the Taliban to repeal its ‘moral laws,’ labeling them a threat to Afghanistan’legitimacy, and future. They also reaffirmed their support for Afghan women’s fight for their rights and vowed to stand in solidarity with them.
Additionally, the statement called on the Taliban to honor Afghanistan’s international obligations, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It reiterated that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is only achievable with women’s full and equal participation in society.
The foreign ministers also praised Afghan women and girls for their resilience and courage in the face of oppression, calling their struggle an inspiration to the world.
Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women have been systematically excluded from education, employment, and public life. Numerous restrictions over the past three and a half years have sought to limit their rights further.
