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empowerME at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East is shaping solutions to empower entrepreneurs, women, and youth and building coalitions of public and private partnerships to drive regional economic integration, prosperity, and job creation.

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Inside the Taliban's gender apartheid

Oct 24, 2025

In the shadow of gender apartheid: Four years of loss and resistance by women in Afghanistan

By Mursal Sayas

It is important not only to document the grim reality of gender apartheid under the Taliban but also to honor the women of Afghanistan's persistence.

Afghanistan Education

MENASource

Sep 17, 2025

In landmark Syria elections, women still face electoral hurdles

By Marie Forestier 

As the indirect electoral process begins, Syrian officials could take several steps to increase women’s chances in this process.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

Inside the Taliban's gender apartheid

Sep 15, 2025

Education as resistance: How women in Afghanistan fight gender apartheid through solidarity

By Rahela Sidiqi

Even under the Taliban’s gender apartheid, the women and girls of Afghanistan continue to learn, build, and gain leadership skills with the help of community mentors and small stipends.

Afghanistan Civil Society

Inside the Taliban's gender apartheid

Aug 14, 2025

South African women’s resistance holds lessons for the women of Afghanistan fighting gender apartheid

By Farhat Ariana Azami

Farhat Ariana Azami in conversation with Gertrude Fester, a veteran South African anti-apartheid activist, and Munisa Mubarez, a women’s rights advocate from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2025

Five questions (and expert answers) about the ICC arrest warrants against Taliban leaders for crimes against women and girls 

By Atlantic Council experts

Our international law experts unpack the implications of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against the Taliban’s supreme leader and chief justice.

Afghanistan Human Rights

Inside the Taliban's gender apartheid

Jul 2, 2025

How centering Afghan women and youth now can help challenge oppressive regimes in the future

By Quhramaana Kakar

Empowered Afghan youth and women embody a future vision for the country rooted in rights, participation, and accountability.

Afghanistan Civil Society

AfricaSource

Jun 12, 2025

Empower women miners now for a just future in Africa

By Neeraja Kulkarni

African countries must address the challenges women in mining face with policies that are tailored to the needs of local communities.

Africa Energy & Environment

UkraineAlert

May 29, 2025

UN probe: Russia’s ‘human safari’ in Ukraine is a crime against humanity

By Peter Dickinson

UN investigators have concluded that a coordinated Russian campaign of deadly drone strikes targeting civilians in southern Ukraine's Kherson region is a crime against humanity, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

New Atlanticist

May 29, 2025

How the Taliban is using law for gender apartheid, and how to push back

By Wesna Saidy and Iavor Rangelov

To combat the Taliban’s institutionalization of gender apartheid, international actors must document the system of lawmaking that underpins the regime's human rights abuses.

Afghanistan International Norms

UkraineAlert

May 27, 2025

Russia’s summer offensive could spark a new humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

By Viktor Liakh, Melinda Haring

As the Russian army gears up for a major summer offensive, Ukraine could soon be facing its most serious humanitarian crisis since the initial phase of the full-scale invasion more than three years ago, write Viktor Liakh and Melinda Haring.

Civil Society Conflict

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