Western nations are being urged by Human Rights Watch (HRW) to evacuate Afghan policewomen who have been victims of sexual abuse and harassment. The watchdog has highlighted that these policewomen faced these atrocities even before the Taliban took over, and now their safety is at an even greater risk.
HRW has specifically called on countries like the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, and others who were involved in the Afghanistan war to provide support to these former policewomen by offering them asylum and prioritising them for refugee resettlement. It is estimated that around 3,800 women who served in the Afghan police post-2013, assisting Nato in maintaining law and order, are currently in distress.
According to researchers at HRW, many of these women feel betrayed as not only were they not evacuated, but their complaints of sexual harassment were also ignored. The threat from the Taliban has pushed several former policewomen into hiding, with some managing to flee to neighbouring countries while thousands remain in Afghanistan, facing imminent danger.
In a report titled “Double Betrayal: Abuses against Afghan Policewomen Past and Present”, HRW underscored the urgent need for action to protect these vulnerable women. Fereshta Abbasi, HRW’s researcher in Afghanistan, shared harrowing stories of abuse, including a policewoman who was raped by a district police chief at her home in the absence of her husband.
The Taliban’s resurgence has exacerbated the situation for these women, who are not only targeted by the extremist group but are also at risk of being ostracised by their own families for serving in the police force. The fear and trauma they are enduring are further compounded by the lack of accessible psychological support under the Taliban regime.
HRW has stressed the responsibility of Nato member nations, who funded and trained these Afghan policewomen, to advocate for their safety and well-being. The report highlights the urgent need for these women to be resettled as refugees and for concerted efforts to end abuses against women in Afghanistan.
The testimonies of these brave policewomen shed light on the ongoing challenges they face, both in terms of personal safety and mental health. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for intervention and support from the international community.