The Role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Addressing Domestic Violence and Human Rights in Afghanistan after 2021

This study examines the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, focusing on domestic violence and women's rights. Using a constructivist framework, it investigates how the OIC's religious identity shapes its discourse on gender-based violence and women's rights. The analysis draws on OIC statements and Special Envoy reports from August 2021 to December 2024, cross-referenced with evidence from Human Rights Watch (2022a), UN Women (2022), and Amnesty International (2023). The findings show that while the OIC occasionally references "the rights of women and children" and "gender-based violence," its language remains vague and non-binding. The organization has prioritized humanitarian assistance over concrete measures to address domestic violence or restore institutions such as the Ministry of Women's Affairs, and it has not convened a religious forum to advance Islamic justifications for gender equality that challenge the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia. This inaction reflects the OIC's consensus-based structure and its preference for non-interference over direct human rights advocacy. It contributes to constructivist scholarship on religious international organizations and proposes policy measures, including a permanent Sharia Council on Gender Justice and conditional humanitarian funding tied to women's protection services.