Last week, the APPG on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) hosted a parliamentary event in collaboration with the Dewa Trust Foundation, examining the impact of Taliban policies on Afghan women and girls, particularly the denial of access to education. The event brought together parliamentarians, campaigners and practitioners to consider the consequences of these restrictions and the role Parliament can play in responding. It was insightful and inspiring to see so many women come together to act as a collective voice for those who have been silenced.

Speakers addressed the scale and depth of women’s exclusion from public life in Afghanistan, noting that the ban on girls’ education beyond grade six has far-reaching effects on mental health, economic participation and community life. Contributors stressed that education is central to dignity and agency, and that its removal is contributing to early marriage, isolation and long-term instability.

“Girls are not lacking intelligence, ambition, or resilience. They are lacking access”. – Dewa Khan

The event included contributions from individuals with professional and lived experience of women’s rights advocacy, alongside analysis of the broader human rights implications. Particular attention was given to the loss of women’s voices from education, media and employment, and the lasting impact this will have on Afghan society if left unchallenged.

The programme also highlighted the work of the Dewa Trust Foundation, including plans for an education app designed to provide Afghan girls with safe, curriculum-based learning from their homes where formal schooling is no longer available. The event reinforced the importance of parliamentary engagement with practical initiatives and sustained advocacy to support Afghan women and girls.