Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and Canada have warned that they may refer the Taliban to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague over severe violations of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan, German media reported on Wednesday.
According to a report from the German news agency DPA, citing a draft statement from New York, these countries have called on the Taliban to adhere to their international obligations and stop violating the rights of Afghan women.
The complaint is being prepared based on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), German media reported. Afghanistan is a signatory to this convention, and the countries involved are formally urging the Taliban to comply with their commitments under international law.
“If these violations are not addressed within a reasonable timeframe, an arbitration process will be initiated, and ultimately, the case may be referred to the International Court of Justice,” the draft statement reads. “The women and girls of Afghanistan deserve the full enjoyment of their human rights.”
The ICJ, based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, is the highest international court for resolving disputes between states, and its rulings are legally binding. However, the court lacks direct enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with its decisions.
This legal warning comes as the Taliban has recently enacted laws that significantly curtail the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. The new legislation has drawn widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has criticized the Taliban’s actions, stating that the group’s new law formalizes the systematic violation of Afghan women’s and girls’ human rights.
