From Progress to Persecution: WPS Gains and Feminist Resistance in Afghanistan

This research examines how the Taliban’s return to power has reshaped the lives of Afghan women and girls, with a particular focus on the systematic erosion of rights and opportunities since August 2021. Drawing on policy reports, secondary literature, and qualitative analysis of published accounts, the article documents restrictions on education, employment, mobility, and political participation. It highlights how these measures dismantle two decades of progress achieved under international support for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiatives. The study situates the rollback of women’s rights within broader questions of peace and security, emphasizing how the exclusion of women from public life undermines both social stability and international commitments to gender equality. By analyzing responses from international organizations, donor governments, and feminist advocacy networks, the research illustrates the gap between rhetorical support for Afghan women and the limited policy tools available to influence conditions under Taliban rule. Findings underscore that the erasure of Afghan women from education and governance is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a strategic security issue, as a durable peace cannot be achieved without inclusive participation. The article calls attention to the resilience of Afghan women’s networks and diaspora activism, which continue to advocate for rights despite repression and limited international engagement. This work contributes to feminist security studies by documenting the lived impacts of authoritarian gender policies and by reinforcing the centrality of women’s inclusion to global peacebuilding. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), the research demonstrates that supporting Afghan women remains an urgent test for the credibility of WPS commitments worldwide.