Interview for RNE: On the Recognition of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan

On 28 January, our coordinator and Director of FIBGAR, Alessia Schiavon, together with Khadija Amin, participated in RNE’s programme Asia Hoy to discuss the recognition of gender ‘apartheid’ in Afghanistan and our related initiative.

The discussion addressed both the impact of the Taliban regime’s policies and the need for a firm response from the international community. Khadija Amin’s testimony situates this reality in the lived experience, drawing on her personal and professional background to describe how the Taliban’s decisions have systematically erased women from education, employment, public spaces, and social life. Her account gives name and face to an oppression that is not circumstantial, but rather part of a system designed to control, silence, and exclude, reminding us that behind every rule lie millions of lives shaped by exclusion and resistance.

From a legal perspective, Alessia Schiavon explained why these practices cannot be understood merely as a form of discrimination, but constitute an institutionalised regime of domination and persecution that qualifies as gender apartheid, which should be recognised under international law as a crime against humanity. Correctly naming this crime is an essential step towards accountability and the effective protection of the rights of women and girls.

At RAGAA, we reaffirm our commitment to continue amplifying the voices of Afghan women and to working towards making the fight against gender apartheid in Afghanistan a priority on the international agenda. We invite you to watch and share the full interview and to join this urgent call for equality, dignity, and justice.

You can watch the full interview here.