PARIS: The President of France’s National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, has described the Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan as gender apartheid, condemning restrictions that have deprived millions of women and girls of fundamental rights.
In a statement posted on X, Braun-Pivet said Afghan women had been systematically excluded from public life and forced into silence under Taliban rule.
She said she had discussed the recognition of gender apartheid and the need for action with Nargis Nehan, a former Afghan government minister.
France Raises Concerns Over Women’s Rights
Her remarks follow growing criticism from French officials over restrictions imposed on Afghan women since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently met several Afghan women’s rights activists and warned that policies excluding women from public life were threatening the future of millions of women and girls, as well as Afghanistan’s prospects for peace and stability.
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Barrot said women had progressively lost access to schools, universities, employment, justice and other areas of public life.
European Lawmakers Call for Action
The criticism has also been echoed within European institutions.
Spanish member of the European Parliament Margarita de la Pisa Carrión recently accused the Taliban of reducing women to second-class citizens through restrictions on education and employment, urging the European Union to take action.
Last week, the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Afghanistan informed former Afghan parliamentarian Baktash Siawash that it would cooperate in efforts to secure recognition of gender apartheid within the parliament.
Discussions on a proposed convention on crimes against humanity are also continuing.
UN Expert Urges International Recognition
The campaign for recognition has gained support from UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett, who has described gender apartheid as an accurate term for the institutionalised oppression of women.
He has urged governments to recognise gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
Afghan activists have also sought French and European support for bringing the issue before international institutions, including the United Nations Security Council.
The renewed calls highlight growing international scrutiny of restrictions on Afghan women and efforts to pursue accountability through diplomatic and legal channels.
