Members of the UK Parliament have strongly condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, calling their policies “horrific” and urging increased international pressure on the group.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Anneliese Dodds, the UK Minister for Women and Equalities, stated that the Taliban has severely undermined the lives of Afghan women and girls, particularly in education and basic rights.
“We are determined to support girls in Afghanistan, including when it comes to education,” Dodds affirmed, reiterating the UK’s commitment to advocating for Afghan women.
She added, “We condemn the Taliban’s appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban must reverse their barbaric decrees, and we continue working with international partners to maintain collective pressure.”
Dodds also welcomed the UK’s political support for the initiative to refer Afghanistan’s case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Meanwhile, Wendy Morton, a member of the UK Parliament, also addressed the issue, describing the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls as “disgusting” and calling for greater international action against the regime.
This parliamentary session comes amid growing calls from the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for their gender-based oppression. Previously, 24 countries had warned the Taliban leadership that they would file a formal complaint at the ICJ in The Hague if the group failed to reconsider its policies against Afghan women.
