New York, 25 September 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands threatened the hardline Islamist Taliban movement on Wednesday with action at the International Court of Justice over violations of women's rights in Afghanistan.

The countries officially reminded the Taliban of their obligation to uphold women's rights as outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), an agreement that Afghanistan is a party to, according to a draft statement made available to dpa.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock plans to meet her counterparts from Australia and Canada, Penny Wong and Mélanie Joly, as well as Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

In a draft declaration, the four countries condemn the widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.

"We have repeatedly urged Afghanistan and the Taliban, including in the framework of the United Nations, to comply with international law, especially human rights law, to protect the human rights of all Afghans, and to lift all restrictions on the rights of women and girls, including on their right to education," the declaration states.

"However, the situation has not improved – to the contrary it continues to worsen. The women and girls of Afghanistan deserve nothing less than the full enjoyment of their human rights."

The countries warn that arbitration and a referral to the International Court of Justice can be made if change is not made.

On August, 15, 2021, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan after Western troops withdrew from the country. Since then, they have drastically restricted the rights of women and girls, including banning women from all universities.

According to the United Nations, Afghanistan is also the only country in the world that denies women and girls over the age of 12 access to education.

Photo: EPA