One year ago, on 25 September 2024, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands announced their intention to hold Afghanistan accountable for violations of women’s and girls’ rights under CEDAW. The initiative has the potential to culminate in a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which would mark a historic step in ensuring that the Taliban answer for stripping away women’s rights and breaching Afghanistan’s international obligations.
On the anniversary of the announcement by Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, we, the members of the Expert Working Group (EWG) and Afghan and international civil society organizations call on these four states to: (1) reinforce their commitment to this critical initiative; (2) to translate their words into action by providing further transparency about the ongoing process; and (3) to ensure meaningful engagement with Afghan women, survivors, and civil society. As women of Afghanistan continue to suffer increasing violence and restrictions, we are concerned that there is a growing trend of normalizing the Taliban. Increased transparency around the process would go a long way in helping restore trust in the initiative. Moreover, restoring women’s rights in Afghanistan requires coordinated and principled action from a strong alliance of diverse stakeholders committed to women’s human rights and dignity.
