The European Parliament, by passing a resolution, has called for Afghanistan to be categorized as a ‘gender apartheid’ regime. In the newly drafted resolution, members of the European Parliament have urged the European Union to support the recognition of ‘gender apartheid’ as a ‘crime against humanity’ and to hold the Taliban accountable by referring them to the International Criminal Court and establishing an independent investigation mechanism.
Shukria Barakzai, a political activist and one of the founders of the “United Against Gender Apartheid” campaign, along with several Afghan women human rights activists, was present at the European Parliament.
“It is time for all of us to unite against gender apartheid and criminalize the Taliban as a gender apartheid regime,” she said in her speech.
Tahmina Salik, an Afghan women’s rights activist and a member of the “United Against Gender Apartheid” campaign, said at the same meeting “For three years, I have done nothing but remind the world that Afghan women exist.”
Members of the European Parliament, while commending the courage of Afghan women, expressed solidarity with them.
The Parliament also called for new EU sanctions against the Taliban and condemned governments that support the Taliban by “normalizing relations” with them.
The “United Against Gender Apartheid” campaign welcomed this news and considers it a significant step toward recognizing “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity in international definitions.