Five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan have been marked by a relentless repression of women and girls, with the international community's response falling short of the necessary action. The author, Gordon Brown, a former UK Prime Minister and now the UN's Special Envoy for Global Education, reflects on the situation and proposes a plan to help Afghan women and girls. He highlights the Taliban's extreme measures, such as banning girls from secondary education, excluding women from university, and imposing strict dress codes. The recent massacre of women's rights protesters, including a young boy, underscores the brutality of the Taliban's rule. Brown argues that the international community's failure to prevent the Taliban's destruction of basic rights is a moral failure. He emphasizes the importance of education as a powerful tool to protect girls from early marriage and enable them to fulfill their potential. Brown suggests that providing access to quality schooling, safe spaces, and financial support for families can significantly impact the lives of girls. He also mentions the need for legal frameworks and community initiatives, such as the 'wedding busters' in Bangladesh, to combat child marriage. The author calls for a global effort, including the establishment of a fund to support Afghan girls threatened with forced marriage, and the implementation of refugee resettlement schemes to provide educational opportunities outside Afghanistan. Brown's proposal aims to address the urgent need to protect and empower Afghan women and girls, ensuring their access to education and a better future.
