RASC News Agency: New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has officially announced his country’s endorsement of a Western-led initiative spearheaded by Germany to prosecute the Taliban for their systematic violations of women’s rights. Peters communicated this stance in a letter to Camilla Bleach, a Member of Parliament from New Zealand. On Tuesday, Bleach, representing the Labour Party, confirmed New Zealand’s unwavering support for international efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for their “inhumane treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.”
Bleach underscored her dedication to advocating for Afghanistani women’s rights, describing the dire conditions in Afghanistan and Iran as “a profound human rights crisis.” She revealed on her social media platform that Afghanistani and Iranian activists residing in New Zealand have actively lobbied for the nation’s involvement in global efforts to ensure accountability for the Taliban’s actions. These advocacy campaigns culminated in a cross-party parliamentary meeting in New Zealand, where lawmakers voiced collective support for international measures aimed at addressing the Taliban’s violations. Bleach also shared a letter from Foreign Minister Peters, wherein he reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to a German-led initiative urging the Taliban to adhere to human rights standards, particularly the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Peters noted that he had engaged in discussions with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, regarding this pivotal effort. Describing the initiative as “essential,” he emphasized New Zealand’s resolve to closely monitor progress and contribute to the international community’s response. Earlier this year, on September 25, the foreign ministers of Germany, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands issued a stern declaration condemning the Taliban’s flagrant and systemic violations of human rights, particularly their gender-based persecution of women. The declaration highlighted Afghanistan’s legal obligations under international frameworks, including CEDAW, and called for direct engagement with the Taliban to ensure compliance with these commitments.
The ministers further cautioned that failure to achieve meaningful results within a reasonable timeframe would necessitate escalating the issue to the International Court of Justice. This collective initiative underscores the international community’s determination to confront the Taliban’s blatant disregard for fundamental human rights and their ongoing oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan.
