Consultative conference on Afghanistan’s violations of CEDAW takes place in Berlin
A consultative meeting on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was held today in Berlin, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss Afghanistan’s violations of women’s rights.
The event was attended by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett, diplomats from various countries, as well as representatives from civil society, human rights organizations, and legal experts.
Ambassadors from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Morocco were among the speakers at today’s gathering.
Participants welcomed the legal initiative taken by Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands to hold Afghanistan accountable for its violations of CEDAW. The initiative, undertaken under Article 29 of the Convention, could potentially lead to a case against Afghanistan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This legal action is considered a crucial step in demonstrating global solidarity with Afghan women.
Several prominent Afghan women’s rights activists also delivered speeches during the meeting.
A significant part of the conference was dedicated to in-depth discussions and exchange of views in small working groups.
During the meeting, Morocco’s ambassador compared the situation of women in Afghanistan to that of women in Morocco, emphasizing that discrimination and double standards against women have no place in Islam.
He stated that the King of Morocco, who is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, has never endorsed policies based on discrimination, including gender discrimination. He highlighted that Morocco’s legal framework is built upon the principles of gender equality.
