Silence is not golden: how academic nursing and midwifery is failing our Afghan sisters

Nursing is fundamentally a profession of care and the alleviation of suffering. Yet, in its embrace of social activism, the profession risks losing sight of these core values and responsibilities. Advocacy for Afghan women, who are being systematically excluded from education and healthcare, is not a peripheral issue. It goes to the heart of what nursing stands for, enduring access to health, healthcare and dignity for all.

In this editorial we present the case for academic solidarity with our sisters in Afghanistan. We draw on Neiman’s (2023) position that those seeking a better and more just world, should embrace universalism, pursue justice over concerns about moral relativism, and take courage and inspiration from previous gains.