Human Rights Watch Urges Western States to Act on Pledge to Prosecute Taliban at World Court
Human Rights Watch Urges Western States to Act on Pledge to Prosecute Taliban at World Court
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Western governments to follow through on earlier commitments to pursue legal action against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over widespread human rights abuses in Afghanistan, particularly violations targeting women and girls.
The organization’s women’s rights director said that around a year and a half has passed since Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia jointly pledged to initiate international legal proceedings against the Taliban. She said the time had come to move beyond political commitments and take concrete legal steps to ensure accountability.
The four countries announced the joint initiative last year, stating their intention to hold the Taliban legally responsible for serious violations, including breaches of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The move was backed at the time by the United Nations and more than 20 countries.
In a related statement, Australia’s foreign minister said Canberra continues to work with international partners on legal measures against the Taliban over its ongoing violations of CEDAW in Afghanistan. She condemned the group’s repressive policies, particularly those affecting women and girls, and said Afghans are facing one of the world’s most severe and prolonged humanitarian crises.
The minister pointed to strict Taliban-imposed restrictions on education, employment and public life as key drivers of the crisis.
Human Rights Watch warned that the absence of decisive judicial action risks sending a message of impunity. The organization urged the international community to use all available legal mechanisms to hold the Taliban accountable, deliver justice for victims, and protect the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
