Decolonizing the Saviour-Victim Narrative: A Critique of Afghanistan's Legal “Reforms” through the Lenses of Decolonial Feminism, Pacifism, and International Relations

This paper critically examines the construction of Afghanistan's legal system, focusing on the establishment of Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) units between 2008 and early 2021. It argues that these efforts, driven by a saviour-victim narrative, reflect colonial models imposed by the international community, particularly Western Europe, which marginalized Afghan women and ignored local governance practices. Through the lens of decolonial feminism, the paper highlights how Afghan women, despite being treated as passive subjects, exercised agency by shaping legal practices in ways that aligned with cultural norms and traditions, resisting externally imposed solutions. By integrating decolonial international relations, pacifism, and decolonial feminism, this paper offers a multi-disciplinary analysis of how colonial biases undermined the effectiveness and legitimacy of international interventions. The research calls for a rethinking of global governance and development projects, proposing a decolonized international relations framework that values the lived realities and epistemic contributions of marginalized communities, particularly Afghan women. It advocates for plural, polycentric systems of knowledge and governance that reject the saviour-victim binary and prioritize solidarity, reciprocity, and mutual respect.