Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
7. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has considered bringing forward an action in the International Court of Justice against Afghanistan over the violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. [43712/23]
View answerI have taken a clear and consistent stand in support of Afghan women and girls, including during Ireland's recent term on the United Nations Security Council.
Ireland has condemned in the strongest terms the more than 50 edicts from the Taliban that exclude Afghan women from public life and employment, prevent women from working for NGOs, and prohibit girls from second-level education and women from universities. Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in public life is their right. It is also vital to ensure sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.
We have advocated strongly for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. During our 2021-2022 term on the UN Security Council, Ireland assumed a leading role on the rights of Afghan women and girls. We continue to highlight these issues at the UN and in other international fora.
Most recently, I was pleased to host an event during High Level Week of the UN General Assembly in September 2023, together with Canada and Indonesia. This was co-organised with the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan, a prominent advocacy and networking platform comprised of Afghan and global women leaders, which is funded through my Department. The event highlighted the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and provided a platform for voices from within the country to be heard.
While bringing an action in the International Court of Justice is not currently under consideration, Ireland continues to speak out publicly against the discrimination of women and girls in Afghanistan and regularly make interventions on these matters at both the United Nations’ Human Rights Council and Third Committee. At the Human Rights Council, Ireland has called out the systematic regression in women and girls' enjoyment of human rights at the hands of the Taliban and recognised the assessment of the Special Rapporteur, Richard Bennett that the cumulative impact of the Taliban’s discrimination against women may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity. In addition, we also co-sponsored an EU resolution on Afghanistan at the same session.
