QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Human Rights in Afghanistan
October 30, 2024
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, last week, I had the privilege to join a round table discussion hosted by the Afghan Women Parliamentarians & Leaders Network. This week, the Taliban’s so-called Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced a new restriction that bans women from speaking to each other or even talking or praying loudly enough to be — perish the thought — overheard by other women. This follows recent restrictions prohibiting women from singing, speaking in public or being too “loud” in their homes.
Essentially, the Taliban is silencing woman and erasing their presence from society. That is the very embodiment of gender apartheid.
How is Canada planning to apply new pressure on the Taliban to end this desecration of a fundamental human right?
The actions of the Taliban have, for a long time, been outrageous, inhumane and in violation of international humanitarian laws and every precept of decency. The further repression and silencing of Afghan women and children is abhorrent. This government condemns, in no uncertain terms, these actions, as it has in the past. It will consider whatever steps are necessary to continue to be engaged in defence of the women, girls and people of Afghanistan who are suffering under this grotesquely repressive regime.
Senator Gold, as Afghan women are pushed further and further out of society, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled this month that simply being an Afghan woman is considered sufficient grounds to grant asylum.
Will Canada follow suit with a similar asylum ruling? Are any new programs being developed specifically for women at risk, such as these poor Afghan women?
Thank you for your question.
I’m going to bring this question to the attention of the minister. I’m not aware of any new programs. Those of us in this chamber, as well as those who have been properly advocating, know how challenging it is to provide the assistance these women and girls so desperately need. Canada will continue to do its best.
