Twenty-six countries on Sept. 26 expressed their support for a legal initiative to hold the Taliban accountable at the International Court of Justice for systematic human rights violations against women and girls in Afghanistan. In a joint statement, the countries condemned Taliban policies that have severely curtailed the rights of Afghan women and girls since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021.

"The women and girls of Afghanistan deserve nothing less than the full enjoyment of their human rights," the statement read. It also emphasized Afghanistan's obligations under international law, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), an international bill of rights for women.

Since the Taliban's seizure of de facto power in 2021, Afghan women and girls have faced severe violations of their rights. The Taliban government has taken various measures to limit their participation in public life and has engaged in systematic discrimination, which has been called "gender apartheid." The recently adopted law on "Virtue & Vice" mandates that women cover their entire bodies, including their faces, remain silent in public, and prohibits them from going outdoors or being photographed, even within their homes.

Amnesty International's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, responded to the announcement, stating:

The world must act in solidarity with the courageous women and girls of Afghanistan by advocating for their rights and holding the Taliban regime to account. This welcome legal initiative should also serve as a timely reminder that states have a responsibility to provide international protection to all those fleeing systematic discrimination and oppression in Afghanistan.

In response, the Taliban denied the accusations, asserting that they were an attempt to spread propaganda against Afghanistan and "misrepresent the situation."

In February, the UN published a report on women's rights in Afghanistan, detailing the Taliban's restrictions on women's attire and its requirement that women have a male guardian. The report concluded that these rules undermine Afghan women's freedom of movement, access to education, employment, healthcare, and other basic rights.

From Jurist, Sept. 27. Used with permission.