When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001, they introduced the most extreme repressive measures against women witnessed in modern times.

Women were forbidden to work, study and leave the house without the accompaniment of a close male member of the family. Many observers, both in Afghanistan and beyond, hoped, after lengthy discussions with Taliban representatives, that the organization had become more moderate in its approach to women after being ousted from power in 2001. Some also said arguing that formal rights introduced or reinstated after 2001 were never enjoyed by the majority of women and that the most important thing for ordinary women was an end to the war.

Now that the Taliban are back in control of Afghanistan, how are the women doing? What can and should Norway and similar countries do? Was bringing the Taliban to Oslo useful? And with the collapse of the Afghan economy resulting in a humanitarian crisis, does Norway have to choose between the survival of the Afghan population and holding the Taliban accountable for their approach to women?

• Shaharzad Akbar is the former chairperson of the Afghan Human Rights Commission and a well-known Afghan activist, feminist and intellectual. She is currently a Fellow of the Human Rights Academy at Chatham House in London.
• She will discuss the situation of women in Afghanistan with Torunn Wimpelmann, Research Director, CMI.

The seminar is led by Chr. Michelsen Institute, the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, the Norwegian Committee for Afghanistan and the Oslo Peace Research Institute.