The dire plight of women suffering under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan will be under the spotlight internationally during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence which runs from 25 November to 10 December.

But you can get involved locally on November 25 by attending a “Women’s Market” at the Australian National University which will bring together a number of organisations selling wares to raise money to directly support of women living under Taliban rule.

Held at the Hedley Bull Building, there will be a number of beautiful items on offer which could make great Christmas gifts while also helping protect womens’ basic  human rights. These include highest quality Afghan woollen carpets, woven ottomans/footstools, traditional Afghan jewellery, Afghan saffron, felted slippers and various embroidered items will all be available.

According to academic and human rights campaigner Susan Hutchinson, the campaign is an important way in which to make visible a group of women whose voices are being systematically silenced, and the market is a perfect way for locals to get involved and make a difference – however small.

Susan helped establish the Canberra-based Non-Government Organisation, Azadi-e Zan, which is dedicated to supporting Afghan women’s rights defenders. Last year Susan was awarded the ACT Chief Minister’s Peace Prize for helping evacuated over 300 Afghan women’s human rights defenders and their families to final destinations of safety around the world.

“Many of those folks are now on our board, sharing their skills and experience in human rights and development in Afghanistan, to make sure we continue supporting Afghan women’s rights defenders the best we can. But there are some serious structural issues getting in the way of that.”

Susan said the global campaign was vitally important. “Too often we forget that we are in fact increasing gender inequality globally. This is a trend international activists have seen coming in international spaces like the UN Commission on the Status of Women for over a decade. We have also seen reduced space for civil society and gender equality in other UN forums and global spaces too.

“Around the world, increasingly authoritarian regimes have been restricting gender equality. Although some countries like Australia, Canada, France and Germany continue to make grand statements in international fora like the UN, which is hugely important for gender equality, there remains a significant need for constructive action, not just words.”

This is the case in Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rule for three years, seeing women living under increasingly strict laws which prevent them not only working or undertaking an education, but travelling without a male escort, seeking medical attention, and speaking aloud in public – including speaking to other women. Public floggings, stoning and executions have been reintroduced and women’s human rights defenders are routinely arrested, disappeared and tortured for their work. The rate of suicide among women has skyrocketed.

While event participants will be making representations to the Federal Government at Parliament House, Susan said ordinary Canberrans can help.

Apart from coming to the market, one of the ways Azadi-e Zan gets people to safety is through a skilled migrant pathway. If you are an employer, you might be able to employ a talented Afghan worker, allowing the organisation to facilitate the safe relocation of a women’s rights defender and their family.

“We have people with all sorts of talents and professional skills on our list, from health workers, to IT professionals and MBAs, to hospitality managers and artists. To be eligible for this scheme, the candidate has to have functional level of English. The visa pathway costs money, depending on the candidate, we may have means to share these costs between our organisation, and family.

“Helping these people costs money. If you have the ability to make a donation, please get in touch. Azadi-e Zan is a registered Association in the ACT. We are currently going through process to be registered as an Australian charity, which includes the accreditation process for Tax- Free donations. But we would still be most appreciative of community support.”

Susan said the situation for Afghan women is horrendous and could even get worse. “While some people have been sharing memes about Gilead after the US election results, there is a non-fiction dystopia in the world for and that exists for women in Afghanistan. The Taliban are making every effort to erase women from public and social life of the country. One might try to imagine they believe all women are good for is reproduction, except that childbirth is often now a death sentence for women because of increasing restrictions on healthcare, and women’s ability to access what healthcare does exist.”

Original article published on HerCanberra on 19 November 2024. Read here. 

Susan Hutchinson (centre) at a Parliamentary delegation to discuss support for Afghan women’s rights defenders.