More than five years after the Taliban returned to power, millions of Afghan women and girls remain shut out of education, work and public life, while governments around the world are quietly normalising relations with Kabul.
In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and founder of Rawadari, an organisation documenting Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability from exile.
Shaharzad shares her journey from a childhood of displacement and refugee life in Pakistan to Smith College and Oxford, and back to Kabul. She explains what daily life looks like for women and girls inside Afghanistan today, how they are finding creative ways to keep learning and working despite the risks, and why the world’s growing willingness to engage with the Taliban is so dangerous.
In this episode:
- Shaharzad’s story: growing up displaced, and her parents’ commitment to education
- Life for Afghan women and girls today: the mental health crisis, forced early marriage and secret classrooms
- How women are working around Taliban restrictions, and the risks they face
- Why geopolitical interests are overtaking human rights, including Russia’s recognition of the Taliban
- Her experience as a delegate in the Doha talks and the Taliban’s PR strategy
- The economic and social cost of an entire generation of girls shut out of education
- Understanding the Taliban’s worldview and why they fear educated women
- Access to healthcare and justice for women, including domestic violence
- How the Taliban’s legal and enforcement machinery has developed into what Shaharzad calls a gender apartheid system
- Whether the Taliban’s impunity is emboldening other countries and extremist groups
- What business leaders, governments and listeners can actually do to help
- The international risks that concern Shaharzad most: misinformation, climate change and the erosion of solidarity
The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.
Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.
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