In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of 12 countries and representatives of the European Union condemned the Taliban's decision to ban women from universities and bar girls from secondary schools.
The statement added that the Taliban's oppressive measures against Afghan girls and women have been relentless and systemic.
Making it clear that such decrees will isolate the Taliban further, they urged the group to abandon the new oppressive measures with respect to university education for women and girls and reverse the existing decision to prohibit girls' access to secondary school.
The joint statement had been issued by foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union.
They emphasised that the Taliban has been clearly disregarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghans as they have issued over 16 decrees and edicts, which constrain women's mobility, remove women from places of work, require head-to-toe coverings for women and even ban women from using public spaces.
The statement stressed that the signatories stand with all Afghans in their demand to exercise their human rights consistent with Afghanistan's obligations under international law.
