KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The governments of Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Luxembourg, and Mexico have referred Afghanistan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation into the ongoing violations of women’s rights in the country.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the six countries have requested the ICC prosecutor to consider crimes committed against women and girls in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover.
According to the statement, the six countries believe it is essential to draw the ICC prosecutor’s attention to the deteriorating conditions and the gravity of the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan.
The ICC investigation into Afghanistan, which began in 2020 and after temporary suspension resumed in 2022, is now being urged to prioritize crimes against women and girls. Under the ICC’s jurisdiction, these crimes are crucial for establishing accountability and prosecuting those responsible.
In a similar move in September, four countries—Germany, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands—announced their intention to hold the Taliban accountable by bringing them before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
They said that the Taliban has violated the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Afghanistan is a signatory, and that the regime must be held accountable.
The proposed legal action was later backed by 20 other countries and international rights groups, all of whom stressed that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan must be held accountable for its continued violations of international law, including the CEDAW.
The human rights situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has continued to deteriorate over the past three years, with widespread violations committed by the regime, especially against women and girls.
The ruling regime has issued over 100 directives and edicts targeting women’s rights, including their rights to education, employment, social mobility, and other fundamental freedoms, effectively erasing them from public life.
Despite numerous calls from around the world, including from Islamic countries and organizations, for the Taliban to uphold women’s rights and lift the bans, the regime remained unmoved.
The Taliban rejects any criticism of their policies, particularly those impacting women and girls, labeling it as interference. The regime maintains that its actions align with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.
