Human rights and the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Afghanistan: lights in the darkness

Abstract

Afghanistan has gone from being a democratic developing state to being controlled by the Taliban, following the abrupt departure of the United States in August 2021. The immediate consequences of the lack of resistance by the Afghan army to the occupation of the territory and the institutions by this group has had a significant impact on the civilian population, but especially on women and girls. This article uses the International Human Rights Law as an indicator to analyze the situation of the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda. This is based on the actions to implement this Agenda carried out by the main agents of its development: NATO, through ISAF, the United Nations Assistance Mission, (UNAMA) and last the Afghan state. Based on this analysis, the article intends to synthesize the Agenda situation until 2021 (new Taliban government) and its present and future challenges. Finally, some brief conclusions are shown on how international intervention has contributed to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda being put into practice and what could be its future role in the post-Taliban Afghanistan.