Securitization dynamics of the displacement of Afghan women

Abstract

Background: The prolonged instability in Afghanistan was intensified with the Taliban's resurgence in 2021, along with a myriad of violations of Human Rights, women's rights have been obliterated, resulting in women's mass displacement amidst geopolitical contestations and human security crises. The main research problem of this study is how principles of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) have been neglected in Afghanistan. The primary objective of this research was to identify how draconian patriarchal norms, economic warfare, and geopolitical bargaining are used to weaponize displacement against Afghan women. Method: The study has utilized qualitative research methods by drawing from data collection methods such as data and statistical reports from case studies in Afghanistan. The qualitative approach allows for an in-depth understanding of the complex social, cultural, and political factors influencing the displacement and securitization of Afghan women, providing nuanced insights into their lived realities and resistance strategies. Further this study also addresses how women are left reliant on fragmented social situations with the Taliban's refusal to engage in international responses, contrasting with the politicization of women's rights aid. Results: According to the 2022 UN Women rapid assessment, this can be seen with 53% of women who were displaced losing access to community safety nets, which led to a rise in the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms like child marriage. Systemic securitization failures, where GBV and institutional indifference carry forward cycles of vulnerability, are ingrained in the displacement of Afghan women. Engagement with Taliban authority must condition international actors protecting women's rights and extending protections for displaced people. Conclusion: The securitization processes surrounding the displacement of Afghan women illustrate structural gender vulnerabilities magnified by the local authoritarian regimes and lack of institutional accountability. In addition to these essential processes, international approaches must facilitate human security foremost, conditioning cooperation on instilling women's rights, addressing systemic barriers, and returning women's access to essential services for displaced Afghan women and girls.