The Extended Essay (EE) is an independent piece of research and a key element to obtain the International Baccalaureate, culminating in a 4,000-word paper. Students are supported throughout the process of researching and writing the extended essay, with advice and guidance from a supervisor who is often a teacher (International Baccalaureate, 2025).
“To what extent have women’s and girls’ rights been upheld in Afghanistan following the fall of the elected democratic government in 2021?” It was not merely an academic question, but an exploration of a humanitarian crisis, a deep dive into how concepts like human rights, power, and legitimacy manifest on the global stage. Gaurav Pradha ‘25 (Nepal) defends these questions with three arguments.
This narrative is drawn from the extensive research and reflective analysis of Gaurav Pradha ‘25 for his Extended Essay.
The Retreat from Education
The restrictions placed by the regime on girls’ schooling were identified not just as policy shifts, but as a systemic denial of human rights and equality. It provided a clear illustration of how power structures were deliberately used
“I used the Dependency Theory to highlight how economically disadvantaged groups become reliant on others while reinforcing cycles of exploitation”.
to determine access to opportunities.
The exclusion of half the population from educational pathways was seen as more than an injustice; it was a societal detriment, described by Gaurav as the cornerstone of socio-economic development, the removal of which would inevitably lead to increased rates of child marriage, domestic violence, and maternal mortality.
The Ban on Employment
Banning women from most professional roles demonstrated a brutal political calculus of power and legitimacy used to enforce control.
Restricted Access to Healthcare
Restrictions on women’s access to healthcare, including the dismissal of female health workers and limits on women seeing male doctors, highlight failures in protecting human rights and undermine human security, with consequences such as rising maternal mortality and denial of reproductive rights. Feminism provides insight into how women’s bodies become political battlegrounds, reinforcing patriarchal dominance and restricting women’s agency over their own health.
Nuance and the Global Stage
A crucial element of the analysis was the effort to avoid a one-dimensional narrative. Gaurav used cultural relativism to explore the regime’s perspective, striving to understand their claim to legitimacy rooted in their strict interpretation of Sharia law. This approach “presented multiple perspectives instead of focusing solely on the Taliban’s illegitimate movements.”
The project also examined the role of international actors, the United Nations, and the European Union, whose intervention efforts raised complex questions of legitimacy and sovereignty. The application of liberalism highlighted the theoretical emphasis on cooperation and collective action to uphold human rights, even as the global community’s limited ability to reverse the crisis remained a critical observation.
The EE proved to be quite comprehensive, and I gained many valuable insights and learned a great deal throughout the process. It has made me a better learner, communicator, and global thinker as I have delved deeper into the vast connections and complexities of this topic. Initially, I thought 4,000 words would be a lot, but I quickly realized I had exceeded the word count. The close connection of the topic to my passion kept me dedicated, and I gained deeper insights into the subjects.
International Baccalaureate. (2025, March 06). What is the extended essay. https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/dp-core/extended-essay/what-is-the-extended-essay/