Nine countries have expressed support for the request to issue arrest warrants for Taliban leaders
In a joint statement titled “Women, Peace, and Security in Afghanistan,” nine countries voiced their support for the extension of UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan. They also expressed backing for the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor’s request for the arrest of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the head of the Taliban Supreme Court.
These countries condemned the “persistent and systemic gender discrimination by the Taliban against women.”
The countries—France, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom—stressed that Afghan women and girls have been excluded from public life and their voices silenced.
They added that the Taliban is attempting to institutionalize discriminatory structures, harassment, and gender-based repression, calling these actions unacceptable.
The statement further noted that the Taliban has issued over 80 decrees and orders specifically targeting the rights and daily lives of women and girls.
It also condemned the ban on women’s access to education and their removal from international and non-governmental organizations.
The statement emphasized support for actions holding the Taliban accountable for human rights violations against women and girls.
The signatory countries also supported the extension of UNAMA’s mandate and the continued presence of UN organizations in Afghanistan, stressing the need for a coherent approach to uphold the rights of women and girls.