Before the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Afghanistan had made strides in combating gender-based violence (GBV) — starting with the implementation of frameworks that criminalized acts such as forced marriage, underage marriage, rape and intimate… Read more
Lacking formal recognition from all member states, the Taliban will not be present at the U.N. General Assembly next week. Their absence speaks volumes about how the international community struggles to constrain a regime that has repeatedly defied U.N… Read more
Each year, more than 1.5 million women and girls in Papua New Guinea experience gender-based violence tied to intercommunal conflict, political intimidation, domestic abuse, and other causes. It is, according to a 2023 Human Rights Watch report, “one of… Read more
“Somebody from a developing country said to me, ‘What we get from China is an airport. What we get from the United States is a lecture.’ ” — Larry Summers, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Amid ongoing U.S.-China competition, Summers’ observation… Read more
As leaders, activists and families across the world commemorate the International Day of the Girl on October 11, the harsh reality faced by millions of Afghan girls stands in stark contrast to many of the planned celebrations. For 750 days and counting,… Read more
The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned Iranian scientist, journalist and human rights activist, for her principled and persistent campaign against the increasingly repressive regime in Iran. The award also acknowledged… Read more
Two years after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the human rights situation in the country is abysmal, with women and girls experiencing the worst of the regime’s policies. There is growing evidence that the Taliban are committing the crime against… Read more
In the years since U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and the resulting Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda called for a gender perspective on peace and security, efforts have historically only addressed women and girls. However, feminist… Read more
Over a year and a half since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, not a single country has recognized its government. Yet, it has resulted in no change in Taliban behavior. The worst predictions of what Taliban rule could be like have come true, as the… Read more
The “Religion and Gender Action Guide” will help faith-based and secular practitioners better understand and address issues at the intersection of religion and gender in conflict and peacebuilding. It provides practical guidance for taking a gender… Read more
In March, 20 months after the Taliban banned Afghan girls from receiving secondary education, another school year began in Afghanistan — the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from going to school beyond the primary level. Since the… Read more
In the decade leading up to Mali’s two military coups in 2020 and 2021, persistent governance grievances had left civilians without reliable public services while the military struggled to contain violent extremist groups. Hopes for a quick return to… Read more