( CNN ) -- The shooting of 14-year-old Malala Yousufzai in Pakistan 's Swat Valley has awakened the world to the dangers a resurgent Taliban poses to the rights and safety of girls and women , particularly those who are human rights activists like Malala . Here is a question for Tuesday 's presidential debate : Will Malala 's shooting prompt concrete steps to prevent more of such attacks , which potentially affect tens of thousands of girls and women -- and could seal the fate of an entire region ? Late last week , as the teenager lay hooked to a ventilator , her recovery uncertain , the Taliban pledged to come after her and her family again to punish her efforts to keep girls schools open . This is the mark of a committed foe of women 's rights , impervious to how its brutality has outraged the people of Pakistan and the globe . The Taliban appears determined to extinguish women 's freedom at any cost . Profile : Malala -- Global symbol , but still just a kid . The stakes are undeniable , yet the fate of women has been glaringly absent from nearly all high-profile discussions on the future of Afghanistan and the wider region . When NATO heads of state met last May in Chicago , it was not until protests were held by Amnesty International and other groups that women were even included as full members of the Afghan delegation . Once invited into the room , Afghan women reported that they were denied a significant role in summit deliberations or decisions . At last week 's vice presidential debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan , there was extensive discussion of Afghanistan , but no mention of women . The issue has scarcely figured in President Obama 's many statements and speeches about the region . As we approach the final debates of this campaign season , it is vital that the candidates answer the `` Malala question . '' This is not an easy problem to solve . As the United States and its allies draw down , security responsibility is being transferred to Afghan government forces without sufficient steps or resources to protect civilians . Funding for development is tenuous , at best . Institutions are weak , and outside influence by key governments and other actors is limited . In Swat Valley , violence and harm to civilians is coming from a range of sources , including U.S. drones in parts of Pakistan . While their challenges differ , the rule of law in both Afghanistan and Swat Valley ranges from fragile to nonexistent . But women 's rights in Afghanistan and Taliban-influenced areas of Pakistan must not be written off as a lost cause . Nor is it good enough to simply proclaim that something must be done . The Taliban 's siege on women puts the impressive rhetorical and legal commitments to women 's rights over the past few decades to perhaps its most visible and high-stakes test . It is not just about women . Communities , local economies , indeed the entire region suffers if women are kept from contributing . Before 9/11 , the Taliban in Afghanistan was notorious worldwide for its iron , repressive rule toward the country 's more than 17 million women . Women were barred from education , professions and even from leaving their homes without being accompanied by a man . Maternal mortality levels were among the world 's highest . In the decade since the Taliban 's overthrow in Afghanistan , modest but key strides have been made . Today , 3 million girls go to school , compared to virtually none under the Taliban . Women make up 20 % of university graduates , and their numbers are growing . Maternal mortality and infant mortality have declined , and 10 % of all prosecutors and judges are women , while there were none under the Taliban . Securing and advancing these gains if the Taliban grows in influence will be difficult . Members of the Afghan Women 's Network , a women 's rights consortium , express grave concern about the future , but also fierce determination not to see the clock rolled back . They have also joined Amnesty International in outlining a specific action plan of steps that must be taken in Afghanistan that may have relevance to Swat Valley , as well . World : Attack on Pakistani schoolgirl galvanizes anti-Taliban feeling . One of the most important of these is a guarantee of significant , secure financial support controlled by women 's institutions and organizations in the region . Development funds and economic activities are being funneled through Afghan government ministries in an effort to build up those institutions . But unless local women 's organizations , including those serving rural areas , have unimpeded access to steady funds , the work and influence of dozens of organizations working to promote women 's education , health care , freedom from violence , economic opportunities and rights are in jeopardy . These groups and their leaders are the best bulwark against regression and deserve assured support . As internal deliberations and political maneuvering over the region 's future unfold , local actors , the United Nations , outside partners , funders and the media must keep up the pressure to ensure that women are heard around the negotiating table and within government organs in the region . Women 's rights must be codified in all negotiated instruments , and existing legal and constitutional guarantees strengthened and enforced . A wide range of governments and institutions globally will continue to hold sway over subjects like the handling of terrorist militants in the region . They need to use that influence to weigh in consistently on behalf of the region 's girls and women . Critically , the number of women at all levels in national security and police forces must be increased through incentives , recruitment efforts and training to ensure that those serving in military and law enforcement roles do not suffer discrimination and can do their jobs . The U.S. presidential candidates should endorse and Congress should enact legislation focused on addressing the threat posed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan . This legislation should be tied to larger U.S. policies and appropriations in relation to Afghanistan and Swat Valley . A new law is the best way to ensure that sufficient funds are set aside and that women 's rights and their status are rigorously tracked and reviewed . Having cited the betterment of women as one justification for its invasion of Afghanistan 11 years ago , the United States needs to show that it is not turning its back on the region 's women . When Malala is well enough she should be the one to decide whether she wants such an effort dubbed `` Malala 's law . '' It would be an apt naming . Opinion : Girl 's courage , Taliban 's cowardice . It took a point-blank assassination attempt of a 14-year old girl to get the world to pay attention to the threat to women from a resurgent Taliban . Unless the shooting of Malala is news heard round the world , prompting sustained action in government offices , legislatures , newsrooms , U.N. halls and public squares , her fate may foretell the lot of millions of other women and girls , and the destiny of an entire region . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Suzanne Nossel .
Suzanne Nossel : Shooting of 14-year-old girl shows resurgent , repressive Taliban . She says presidential candidates must answer : Will they take action to push back ? She says in talks on region 's future , women 's rights chronically left out . Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos:Photos: U.S. must tie women 's rights to laws on appropriations , policies in region .