Call on Australia to Lead Global Legal Action Against Taliban Over Women’s Rights Violations
A prominent human rights official has urged the Australian government to take the lead in international legal action against the Taliban administration due to widespread violations of the rights of women and girls, and to refer the case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This appeal comes as restrictions imposed on Afghan women over nearly five years have intensified to unprecedented levels.
Binafar Norouzi, president of the Open Society Foundation, stated on the evening of Tuesday, July 14, that orders issued by the Taliban administration, especially Order No. 18 concerning the separation of spouses, have paved the way for forced marriages and increased legal restrictions on women. According to her, these orders have directly affected family structure and women’s right to choose.
Norouzi added that since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban administration has issued over 100 orders targeting women and girls, depriving them of education, employment, and active participation in society. These restrictions have drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations and, according to critics, have paralyzed the social and economic lives of millions of Afghan women.
She recalled that Australia, along with Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, took the first step in September 2024 to hold the Taliban accountable. However, with increased repression, current measures are insufficient. She believes that formally referring this case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague can increase global legal and political pressure and send a practical message of solidarity with Afghan women and girls.
This appeal comes as United Nations experts and the European Parliament described the Taliban’s policies against women and girls in June as “gender apartheid,” a term reflecting the deep concern of the international community over the institutionalization of structural discrimination in Afghanistan.
