Why in News? The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against two senior Taliban leaders for their crimes against women and LGBTQI+ individuals in Afghanistan.

• The Taliban leaders are accused of:
  • Persecuting girls and women who defied the Taliban’s strict gender norms.
  • Targeting LGBTQI+ individuals and non-conforming persons.
  • Committing crimes against humanity, including gender-based persecution.

This is a landmark case as it brings gender-based oppression under international legal scrutiny.

About International Criminal Court (ICC):

Established Under:

• Rome Statute, 1998
• Came into force on 1 July 2002

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

Jurisdiction:

• Prosecutes individuals (not states) for serious international crimes, including:
  1. Genocide
  2. Crimes against humanity
  3. War crimes
  4. Crime of aggression (added in 2018)

 Important Sections of the Rome Statute:

Members and Non-Members:

• Total members: 124 countries
• Not a member:
  • India, China, USA, Israel, among others
  • India’s concern: Sovereignty, selective justice, and possible misuse

Significance of the ICC Action on Taliban:

• Sets a global precedent by treating gender-based oppression as a prosecutable international crime.
• Reinforces international accountability for the Taliban regime.
• Expands the understanding of gender persecution under Art. 7 of the Rome Statute