ICC Urged to Investigate Taliban's Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan

Nov 30, 2024, 12:20 AM

Six countries—Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Luxembourg, and Mexico—have formally referred the situation in Afghanistan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation into crimes against women and girls since the Taliban regained power in 2021. This referral comes amid increasing international concern over the Taliban's policies, including the closure of women-only cafes in Herat and the imposition of a new 'morality law' that prohibits women from speaking loudly in public spaces. The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, has acknowledged the receipt of this referral. Additionally, activists at a conference in Strasbourg, France, have criticized the international community's silence on the deteriorating conditions for women in Afghanistan. The Organization for World Peace (OWP) has also called for constructive engagement with the Taliban to prevent the normalization of gender apartheid in the country.