A bird has better protection than an Afghan woman. Welcoming the Taliban to Europe is a slap in the face | Fawzia Koofi

The useful part

The EU must enact laws to stop gender apartheid and end impunity – not invite the perpetrators to Brussels. For Afghan women and girls it is a matter of survival The Taliban in Afghanistan recently arrested three of my family members, kept them in captivity, tortured one, and confiscated my house. I was about to write to European diplomats to seek support for the release of my innocent family when I heard the shocking news that the EU is inviting Taliban officials to Brussels.

How it works

• After nearly five years, what has changed in Afghanistan to make life better for its women and its people?
• Five years with no official schools for female students beyond sixth grade, while thousands of religious schools have been established across Afghanistan, where girls may attend without restrictions.
• Five years of bans on women becoming doctors, while maternal and infant mortality have skyrocketed.