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Thunderous Silence of Women’s Rights Leaders about Afghan Women’s Rights
Those who have freedom must speak on behalf of those who do not. This past week saw protests in London (picture) and Washington DC (“Biden Betrayed Us” NYT one-minute video) as the administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has left women without protection from the Taliban. In the past, phrases such as “See, Hear, Say” and “Silence is Violence” have rightly condemned brutality against women, no matter the context. The world must hear from female leaders in the US government (Vice President Kamala Harris comes to mind, while a U.N. spokesperson has responded) who have championed women’s rights in the past but whose voices have yet to be heard over the past week.
Truth be told, it has been the American military that, for 20 years, has been the safeguard for women in Afghanistan. [See my “American Soldier” and “Afghanistan” from this past week.] The manner in which US forces have been withdrawn has left vulnerable the women and children of Afghanistan. Neither policy groups, nor conferences, nor stern warnings will stop men from making Afghani women into sexual slaves. Afghan nationals living in free countries such as England and America have spoken. But it would be good to hear from outspoken women’s rights leaders who have spoken in the past. Right now, the silence is thunderous. [Picture credit: Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash.]
Addendum, from my Facebook post this weekend:
