G7 to Taliban: women ban in universities could amount to crime against humanity

BERLIN: The G-7 countries on Thursday called on the Taliban to “urgently reverse” a ban on women working with national and international NGOs.

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In a joint statement, the G-7 foreign ministers and high representatives of the EU said that they are “gravely concerned” by the “Taliban’s reckless and dangerous order.”

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“The Taliban continue to demonstrate their contempt for the rights, freedoms, and welfare of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, and their disinterest in normal relations with the international community,” the statement said.

Gender persecution may amount to a crime against humanity, said a statement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock the other day on behalf of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations’ foreign ministers.

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The G7 strongly condemned the Taliban’s decision to ban women from universities, which taken with other measures by the Taliban would seem to be a systematic policy, said Baerbock as chair of the meeting.

Highlighting the “central” role of women in humanitarian and basic needs operations, the foreign ministers said they support Afghan people’s calls for girls and women to return to work, school, and university.

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Foreign ministers of Australia, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands also joined the call by G-7 countries and the EU.

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