Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed support for Canada and its allies’ initiative to hold the Taliban accountable for violations of international conventions against gender discrimination, calling the effort “encouraging.”
In recent discussions with Canadian lawmakers and Afghan activists, Bennett highlighted that holding the Taliban accountable for breaching the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women could produce timely results.
“The initiative led by Canada and its partners represents a practical step toward accountability for the Taliban’s violations against women and can yield results swiftly,” he added, noting that the International Criminal Court is already investigating alleged crimes committed in Afghanistan.
Despite the six-month deadline set by Canada and three other nations to curb human rights abuses, the Taliban has shown no shift in its stance on women’s rights. Some human rights activists report that restrictions have only intensified under the Taliban’s new morality law, which has imposed additional limitations.
Bennett also noted the potential for an international summit by year’s end to discuss a new treaty addressing crimes against humanity. Afghan advocates have urged that this treaty include the criminalization of “gender apartheid.”
“Currently, there is no legal framework for prosecuting gender-based apartheid, as international law recognizes only race-based apartheid,” Mr. Bennett said. “The term ‘gender apartheid’ is powerful both conceptually and linguistically, drawing critical attention to the dire conditions for Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule.”
Meanwhile, Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, met with the president of Mexico to discuss the Taliban’s prohibition on girls’ education. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she described the Taliban’s rule as a “gender apartheid regime,” noting that Afghan women and girls have been systematically erased from society under Taliban governance.
