RASC News Agency: Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has expressed strong support for the referral of a case concerning systematic violations of Afghanistani women’s and girls’ rights to the ICC by Chile, France, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, and Luxembourg. In a statement issued on Friday, November 29, Khan confirmed that his office had formally received the case the preceding day.
The ICC prosecutor elaborated that these six nations have urged his office to include the examination of crimes committed against women and girls in Afghanistan as part of its broader investigation into the country’s situation since the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021. He remarked:
“While I must underscore the necessity of maintaining confidentiality regarding specific details of my office’s investigations, I am pleased to report that we have achieved significant progress in probing allegations of gender-based persecution in Afghanistan. We are now positioned to announce tangible outcomes in the near future.”
Khan reaffirmed his commitment to engaging with all relevant stakeholders to propel these investigations forward and commended the bravery and determination of those who have provided unwavering support for justice. On Thursday, the governments of Chile, France, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, and Luxembourg formally referred the case of violations of Afghanistani women’s and girls’ rights by the Taliban to the ICC. A statement released by Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the urgency of the situation, stating:
“Given the grave and worsening conditions faced by all women and girls in Afghanistan, the matter has been referred to the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to ensure justice is served.”
Since reclaiming power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have enacted draconian measures severely restricting women’s rights and freedoms, effectively barring them from education and employment. Afghanistani women’s rights activists have denounced these actions as “gender apartheid,” while United Nations experts have categorized the Taliban’s policies as “crimes against humanity.” This concerted international effort signifies a critical step toward holding the Taliban accountable for their egregious violations of human rights and ensuring that Afghanistani women and girls are granted the justice they deserve.
