JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai delivered a powerful speech in Johannesburg, South Africa, calling for international action against the Taliban’s systematic oppression of girls and women in Afghanistan. She denounced the regime’s policies as “gender apartheid” and urged world leaders to recognize it as a crime against humanity.
Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist and advocate for girls’ education, drew parallels between the Taliban’s actions and South Africa’s historical apartheid system. She highlighted the devastating impact of the Taliban’s edicts, which have effectively imprisoned millions of girls by denying them access to education, work, and basic freedoms.
It was an honour to deliver the @NelsonMandela Annual Lecture and call out what is happening in Afghanistan for what it is: gender apartheid.
Please watch and share. The world must wake up to what’s happening and support women and girls in Afghanistan. https://t.co/8QghLFhckG pic.twitter.com/LxkNHzF1lE
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) December 7, 2023“In effect, the Taliban have made girlhood illegal,” she declared, emphasizing the psychological and emotional toll these restrictions have on young women. She urged the international community to resist normalizing relations with the Taliban and to pressure them into respecting basic human rights.
Yousafzai’s call to action focused on three key areas:
1. Codifying Gender Apartheid as a Crime Against Humanity: She urged governments to support the inclusion of “gender apartheid” language in the new UN Crimes Against Humanity Treaty, arguing that this would provide a legal framework for holding the Taliban accountable and preventing similar injustices elsewhere.
2. Investing in Education for Afghan Girls: Yousafzai emphasized the need to support innovative initiatives like digital learning platforms and radio/TV lessons to ensure that Afghan girls can continue their education despite the Taliban’s bans.
3. Building a Global Movement Against Gender Apartheid: She called upon student groups, human rights activists, and other stakeholders to build public awareness and pressure institutions to take action against the Taliban’s policies.
Big thanks to @Malala for delivering the 21st Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture – your inspiring words resonate with Madiba's legacy.
The closed dialogue session with our team today deepens our shared commitment.
On the 10th anniversary of Mandela's passing, Malala's presence… pic.twitter.com/gcFCIUw2DZ
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) December 7, 2023Yousafzai’s powerful speech resonated with the audience, sparking a renewed sense of urgency and commitment to supporting the fight against gender apartheid in Afghanistan. She concluded by urging the world to stand with the Afghan girls and women: “They are the heroes the history books can teach us about. We must be their champions, until they are free.”