KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A coalition of Afghan and international civil society organizations has backed a proposed legal case against the Taliban over its policies restricting women’s rights in Afghanistan.
In a joint statement on Tuesday following a consultative meeting in Berlin, nearly 60 organizations and activists described the move as a crucial step in holding Taliban-controlled Afghanistan accountable for its obligations under international law.
In September last year, Canada, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against Afghanistan for breaching the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The move has since gained support from over 20 other countries. As a state party under Article 29 of the convention, Afghanistan could face proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
CEDAW, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979, aims to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality worldwide. Afghanistan is one of 189 countries that have signed and ratified the convention.
In their joint statement, the organizations and activists—including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Rawadari—welcomed the initiative, calling it an example of global solidarity with Afghan women.
“In the face of the worsening women’s rights crisis in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s systematic and grave violations of women’s and girls’ rights since their takeover on August 15, 2021, there is a dire need for accountability and justice,” they stated.
However, they stressed the importance of “comprehensive, inclusive, and meaningful” consultations with affected communities inside and outside Afghanistan to shape the legal process and enhance its legitimacy.
“As agents of change, Afghan women should have opportunities to engage with states undertaking this initiative, whether in evidence gathering, case documentation, strategic communications, or future legal proceedings,” they added.
They also called for the inclusion of rights activists, legal scholars, academics, and civil society representatives from diverse ethnic, religious, and marginalized groups in consultations.
Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan has become one of the most repressive countries for women and girls. The regime has imposed sweeping restrictions, curbing their freedom of movement and barring them from education, employment, and public life.
Rights groups, UN experts, and Afghan activists argue that the Taliban’s treatment of women constitutes gender apartheid, urging the international community and the UN to recognize it as such formally.
The Taliban, however, has consistently rejected criticism of its policies, particularly those affecting women and girls, dismissing it as foreign interference. The regime maintains that its actions align with its interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.
