The Human Security Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a research consortium dedicated to examining the intersection of global security and human well-being, is preparing to release a paper in PLOS One outlining fresh survey results from Taliban-governed Afghanistan. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the study was led by UMass Amherst Professors Charli Carpenter, Kevin Young, and Bernhard Leidner, along with UMass DACSS alumna Kristina Becvar and a group of undergraduate researchers, including Camryn Hughes, Ruya Hazayen, Astrid Paz, Tegan Oliver, Alexandra Protter, Sarah Sirkkisson, and Jayden Whittaker.
In collaboration with RIWI, the team conducted a cross-sectional survey of more than 3,000 Afghan internet users from March 16 to June 16, 2022. The findings revealed substantial backing for women’s rights, with 66% of respondents expressing support. These results underscore a notable disparity between public sentiment and governmental policies regarding human rights in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Notably, fathers who indicated having a daughter as their eldest child were notably more inclined to strongly endorse women’s rights, compared to mothers or fathers of eldest sons. However, the researchers observed that this effect was most pronounced among those fathers who reported their child’s gender before expressing their views on women’s rights. In essence, when fathers were prompted to contemplate their eldest daughters, backing for “achieving human rights for women” as a top priority surged to a remarkable 78%.
This study underscores the significance of appropriately framing the issue of women’s rights and adjusting ongoing initiatives to better align with the priorities of Afghans. The findings carry significant implications for how global human rights organizations and local civil society groups can effectively advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan.
For more insights into violence awareness in Afghanistan, read our brief on research by the Political Violence Lab here.
