KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A group of UN Security Council (UNSC) members has supported the arrest warrant application filed by ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan against senior Taliban leaders.
In a joint statement on Monday, representatives from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia expressed support for efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for what they described as “systematic and widespread violations” of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.
They condemned the Taliban’s “continued and systemic gender discrimination and increased gender-based violence,” saying such actions could amount to “gender persecution.”
“Today, the women and girls of Afghanistan are erased from public life, and their voices are silenced,” the UNSC members said. “The Taliban has issued more than 80 decrees and directives specifically targeting the autonomy, rights, and daily lives of women and girls.”
The council members urged the Taliban to immediately halt and reverse policies that they say violate fundamental human rights. They also called on the group to uphold Afghanistan’s international commitments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The statement also expressed support for the continued presence of UN agencies, including the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and for extending its mandate. It emphasized that UNAMA should focus on advocating for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced in January that his office had filed applications for arrest warrants against Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The request cites crimes against humanity, specifically gender-based persecution.
Prosecutor Khan has accused Taliban leadership of orchestrating a systematic crackdown on Afghan women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals since reclaiming power on August 15, 2021.
The request will now be reviewed by a panel of ICC judges. If approved, all ICC member states would be obliged to arrest the accused if they enter their territories.
The ICC’s move has been widely welcomed by human rights organizations, UN experts, activists, and Afghan women, who see it as a crucial step toward accountability for ongoing abuses in Afghanistan.
However, the Taliban has condemned the move, calling the allegations “unfair” and “politically motivated.” The group has also announced Afghanistan’s withdrawal from the ICC, stating that it does not recognize any legal obligations under the Rome Statute.
