Ghawgha calls on the Norwegian Government to recognise gender apartheid in Afghanistan five years after the Taliban's return to power
From 11 to 15 August 2026, singer and musician Ghawgha will hold a five-day artistic action outside the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) in Oslo.
The initiative marks five years since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, following the collapse of the Afghan government during the final withdrawal of US troops. The withdrawal followed an agreement between the Taliban and the United States signed in Doha, Qatar, in 2020.
Through the power of music, collective artistic action, and solidarity, Ghawgha aims to draw the attention of the Norwegian government to the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. She calls on Norway to recognise gender apartheid in Afghanistan and to take a clear stand against the systematic dehumanisation of women and girls.
Since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, Afghan women and girls have been stripped of fundamental human rights, including the right to education, the right to work, the right to travel without a male guardian, the right to participate in sports, the right to have their voices heard in public, and the freedom to laugh publicly. Ghawgha's street performance outside the Norwegian Parliament is a response to the global inaction that has enabled the normalisation of the erasure of women and girls from Afghan society.
The programme will take place daily from 13:00 to 15:00 between 11 and 14 August, followed by an evening programme on 15 August from 18:00 to 20:00.
Ghawgha invites musicians, artists, human rights defenders, and members of the public to join her for any part of the action, either by participating in the musical performances or by standing in solidarity with the women and girls of Afghanistan.
Ghawgha
Ghawgha is an Afghan singer, songwriter, and composer who has been professionally active since 2015. Renowned for her music promoting peace and human rights, she was named one of the BBC's 100 Most Influential Women.
Following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Ghawgha relocated to Norway. She was the ICORN resident in Harstad from 2022 to 2024. She continues to live and work in Norway, where she combines her artistic practice with human rights advocacy. In late 2024, she released her album Qaf and has since performed at numerous events while continuing her work in support of human rights and freedom of expression.
