The Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021 marked a drastic setback to the rights and safety of women in Afghanistan. Under the Taliban, women and girls are excluded from societal space, education, and political decision-making. High levels of gender-based violence (GBV) and the restriction of women’s rights are coupled with the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation. Barriers for male survivors of sexual assault in Afghanistan, including the access to and quality of healthcare facilities and services, have further increased. The Taliban have reportedly perpetrated violence and sexual assaults against members of the LGBTQI+ community. Many individuals have been forced to go into hiding, relying on friends and families for basic necessities. WIIS and the Embassy of Liechtenstein, Washington D.C. held a virtual policy roundtable, on December 9, 2021, examining the current situation facing some of the most vulnerable individuals in Afghanistan from a political, social, legal, economic, and humanitarian perspective as well as the role of the international community in response to the crisis.
