Germany, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands have prepared a draft proposal indicating they will file a complaint against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if the group fails to change its policies towards Afghan women and girls, Atlas News reported.

Women and girls in Afghanistan face unprecedented challenges as the Taliban’s harsh policies continue to dismantle their access to education, public life, and fundamental freedoms. Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, women and girls’ futures have been severely curtailed, and the impact on their well-being is devastating. One of the most significant impacts of Taliban rule has been the complete exclusion of girls from secondary and higher education. Over 1.1mn girls have been denied access to education beyond sixth grade, a stark contrast to the progress made in the two decades before 2021.

In the proposal by the four Western states, published on September 26, they stressed that the Taliban must stop violating the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

A group of Afghan women activists are working on the details of this draft with the four countries, focusing mainly on widespread human rights violations and gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Once finalised, it will be referred to the International Court of Justice.

According to German media, these countries have also prepared a draft declaration on this matter within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, of which Afghanistan is also a member.

The draft states that Afghan women and girls deserve respect for all their rights. All four countries have warned that if the situation does not improve within a reasonable timeframe, they will seek legal arbitration and refer the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, said before the start of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York that her country wants those who commit the most severe violations of international laws to be held accountable.

Also recently, Meryl Streep, the renowned Hollywood actress, made a powerful statement about the situation of Afghan women under the Taliban.

Speaking at the UN, she highlighted the severe restrictions imposed on women's rights in Afghanistan, stating that "a female cat has more freedoms than a woman" in the country.

Streep urged the international community to take action against the Taliban's repression and to support Afghan women and girls.

After taking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have been accused of widespread human rights violations, especially against women. The group has recently passed a law on promoting virtue, which contains numerous instances of human rights violations and has raised global outrage.

The move by the Western countries comes amid growing concern in neighbouring states over the number of Afghan nationals living there. In Iran, an MP said on September 25 that at least 17mn Afghans are now living in that country as more continue to pour over the border. 

Yaghoub Rezazadeh, representing Salmas in the Iranian parliament, stated on September 25 that "17mn Afghans" have been allowed to settle in Iran and benefit from Iranian subsidies. He argued this amounts to "changing the country's demographic fabric and creating a second Afghanistan on the Islamic Republic of Iran's soil."