The darkest epoch for women in Afghanistan transpired during the Taliban’s rule from 1996 to 2001. This era saw the deprivation of women’s fundamental human rights, as Islamic extremism and ethnocentrism supplanted freedom and democracy. Following the downfall of the Taliban regime and the establishment of an Afghan republic, a prolonged 20-year struggle between the [...]
As the Taliban marks the second anniversary of its rise to power in August 2021, they claim that things have gotten better for the people of Afghanistan, trumpeting what they see as their accomplishments in terms of safety, the economy, and peace, or at least the absence of war. But these claims are at odds [...]
The Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA) was founded in 2008 with the aim of promoting fair trials, enhancing public trust in the legal profession, fostering collaboration among justice sector stakeholders, fostering the next generation of committed legal professionals, and combating administrative corruption in a country ravaged by war. The Association spurred the rise of a [...]
The Taliban’s ascension to power in Afghanistan two years ago dealt two significant blows to the nation’s legal system. Firstly, they orchestrated a mass release of prisoners, most of whom were Taliban fighters convicted of severe crimes. This unexpected action placed court personnel who had been involved in their sentencing in immediate danger, making them [...]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals responsible for the gravest of crimes — genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. While the struggles faced by Afghan women and girls have yet to be classified, their plight demands attention. As human beings, these women and girls have been callously [...]
In August 2021, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, and the judicial and prosecution system that had been in place for more than 20 years has since crumbled. Lawyers, judges, and prosecutors have detected a persistent threat, and things are only getting worse. While most Afghan attorneys have fled to the US or Europe, some [...]
On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military ousted the nation’s democratically elected government. Almost two years on, conflict continues to plague Myanmar and its citizens. In some parts of the country, a handful of groups have taken up arms. Most notably, the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), the People Defense Forces (PDF), an insurgent group supported by [...]
I remember when Michelle (name changed to protect identity) got the email. She yelled out, “What?! This is so unfair! I’m writing to CSS right now!” CSS is the Counsel Support Section of the Registry at the International Criminal Court (ICC). One of CSS’s responsibilities is approving the budget and appointments of defense teams who [...]
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