Taliban authorities have threatened Afghan women who had served in the police under the previous government, adding to the risks they face from their families who opposed their work.
Afghan policewomen have been doubly betrayed, first by the former government, whose officials were responsible for widespread sexual abuse, and then by countries that ignored the abuse when it happened and have not granted asylum.
Countries that supported programs to train and hire women in the Afghan police, including the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, and those in the EU, should support Afghan women seeking asylum and prioritize these women for refugee resettlement.
Afghanistan: Policewomen Report Past Abuse, Taliban Threats. Human Rights Watch