Afghanistan Peace CampaignVan Schaack added that in all their engagements with the Islamic Emirate, they are pushing to have some of these restrictions relaxed.
Beth Van Schaack, the US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, said that the bans on girls’ education is one of the most unconscionable acts of the current Afghan government.
Van Schaack added that in all their engagements with the Islamic Emirate, they are pushing to have some of these restrictions relaxed.
“When it comes to girls’ education, indeed this is one of the most unconscionable acts of the Taliban, to deny young girls the ability to plan their own life paths, to operate in public, to have – to contribute to the growth and vibrancy of that particular society. And so in all of our engagements there we are constantly pushing to have some of those restrictions be relaxed,” Van Schaack noted.
The US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice further stated that the International Criminal Court does have an open investigation and has indicated that it is prioritizing crimes committed by the Taliban.
“The International Criminal Court does have an open investigation and has indicated that it is prioritizing crimes committed by the Taliban and other non-state actors and that the prosecutor has appointed a senior special advisor on gender persecution who has put forth a very comprehensive policy on how the Office of the Prosecutor should prosecute gender persecution before the International Criminal Court. Now, no charges have been forthcoming, but we do anticipate that they will be, and so that’s an area to watch,” Van Schaack added.
The Islamic Emirate so far has not commented on this matter, but it has always said that the ban on female education is not permanent, and they are trying to solve this problem.
It has been over two years that girls above sixth grade have been banned from attending school, the issue which sparked reactions inside and outside the country. Some girls asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for them.
“We ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools, universities and educational centers for us, because Afghanistan cannot be completed without women and cannot progress,” said Maryam, a student.
Earlier, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that that the US has been very clear about the education of girls in Afghanistan.
Addressing the press conference, Jean-Pierre said that Washington remains laser-focused on trying to support and assist the Afghan people without bolstering the Islamic Emirate.