2025-03 Standing with Afghan Women and Girls

Published in: GENERAL

Category:

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Sub-Category:

GENERAL

Resolution Number:

400.10.30

Club:

BPW Brampton Caledon

Background:

Afghan women and girls continue to face severe and systemic violations of their rights under the Taliban regime, including restrictions on education, employment, and freedom of movement. The international community, including Canada, has a moral and legal obligation to protect human rights, as outlined in CEDAW, the Rome Statute, and other treaties to which Canada is a signatory. Canadian civil society and the Government of Canada can take meaningful action to support Afghan women and girls through advocacy, humanitarian aid, and refugee resettlement programs.

Empowering Afghan women and girls through access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities is essential not only for their individual well-being but also for the long-term stability of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s persistent lack of accountability for human rights violations targeting women and girls sets a dangerous precedent, emboldening other authoritarian regimes and extremist groups to act with impunity. This undermines global efforts to uphold women’s rights, the rule of law, and democratic principles, making coordinated international action, including by Canada, both necessary and urgent (Human Rights Watch, 2023; UN, 2023).

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Canada) urges the Government of Canada and relevant ministries to:
1. Implement targeted sanctions against individuals and entities supporting gender-based persecution in Afghanistan, including Taliban affiliates and their enablers;
2. Work closely with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC), and other state parties to advance the current legal proceedings and to bring additional countries into these efforts;
3. Increase and direct humanitarian aid to Canadian and international organizations that serve Afghan women and girls, both in-country and in refugee settings;
4. Expand and accelerate refugee pathways for Afghan women at risk, while simplifying the asylum process;
5. Fund remote education and employment programs that circumvent Taliban restrictions.
6. Advocate for the rights of Afghan women at international forums and collaborate with international allies to develop coordinated efforts to pressure the Taliban to restore women’s rights and hold them accountable for violations;
7. Raise awareness about the challenges faced by Afghan women and girls through social media campaigns, public events, and advocacy initiatives;
8. Provide logistical and intelligence support through the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to Afghan resistant groups who advocate for women’s rights and democratic freedoms, to help counter Taliban oppression and protect at-risk populations;
9. Amplify the voices of Afghan women by collaborating with them in Canadian and International advocacy efforts, ensuring their perspectives inform decision-making processes.