Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned the Taliban’s recent decision to close medical training institutions for women in Afghanistan, stating that it has destroyed one of the few remaining pathways for women’s education and employment.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Saturday, Wong criticised the Taliban’s ban on women studying nursing and midwifery, warning that this decision “puts lives at risk.” She stressed that the move highlights the need to hold the Taliban accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
“The Taliban’s actions underline the urgency of Australia’s efforts to seek accountability for their treatment of women under international law,” Wong remarked.
Australia, alongside Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada, was among the first nations to announce plans to file a formal complaint against the Taliban at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Over 20 countries have now expressed their support for prosecuting the Taliban for gender-based violations.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently announced an ongoing investigation into gender-based persecution of women in Afghanistan, with findings expected to be released soon. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan recently met with several women activists and assured them that “good news” is forthcoming.
The Taliban’s leader ordered the closure of medical training institutions for women and girls last week, triggering widespread international condemnation. However, Taliban officials in Kabul have yet to comment on the decision.
