During a virtual UN conference Wednesday, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown called for the prosecution of Taliban leaders through proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the current “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.

Brown underscored the deprivation of education and employment for Afghan girls and women as profoundly grave transgressions against the principles of humanity. Additionally, in a recent opinion piece for the Guardian, Brown underscored the accountability of the Taliban rulers for what he described as “a crime against humanity” and “nothing less than ‘gender apartheid.'”

Brown emphasized that the restoration of educational aid to Afghanistan hinges upon the re-establishment of girls’ enrollment in schools and universities. He unveiled forthcoming initiatives, backed by the UN, intended to sponsor and financially support online learning opportunities tailored for girls. Simultaneously, Brown promised provisions will be put in place to extend educational assistance to Afghan girls forced to leave the nation, guaranteeing uninterrupted access to learning. Brown also urged Muslim countries to deploy a delegation to Kandahar, with the intent of persuading the leadership of the Taliban to rescind their ban on girls’ education and women’s employment, which he claims is not supported by the Quran.

Since assuming control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have introduced mandates that impose extensive limitations upon the rights of women and girls including banning them from practicing law, attending university and going out in public without a male chaperone. In a recent interview conducted by the Associated Press in Kabul on Monday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Taliban, dismissed inquiries concerning constraints imposed upon girls and women.