Afghan Activists and Officials Urge French Government to Recognize Gender Apartheid

Afghan activists, former officials, and international representatives convened in Paris for a two-day diplomatic conference focused on women’s rights and humanitarian policy in Afghanistan. The meetings, which concluded on Thursday, were held at the French parliament, the foreign ministry, and Paris city hall.

Participants included United Nations Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett, former Afghan National Security Chief Rahmatullah Nabili, French foreign ministry representatives, and Afghan women activists. During the sessions, attendees outlined several key policy requests directed at European and international bodies. Primary among these was the formal recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. Delegates also called for the acceleration of humanitarian and educational visas for Afghan women, the release of female detainees held by the Taliban, and the co-hosting of a broader international conference on Afghanistan in France.

The discussions align with ongoing legislative efforts in Europe. The European Parliament is currently reviewing a petition that seeks to formally recognize gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan as gender apartheid and to designate the Taliban as a terrorist organization. Advocates at the Paris meetings emphasized that international legal recognition and targeted visa programs are critical to addressing the systemic restrictions placed on women and girls under the current administration.

The conference served as a platform for Afghan civil society to directly engage with European policymakers and United Nations officials. Organizers stressed that sustained diplomatic pressure and coordinated international action remain essential to advancing humanitarian access and protecting the rights of Afghan women.