UN Condemns Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women in NGOs: A Call for Change
The United Nations has strongly condemned the Taliban’s recent decision to ban Afghan women from working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, has called on Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to reverse this harmful ban, which will further isolate Afghan women from critical work opportunities.
Since the Taliban took control in 2021, the rights of women in Afghanistan have been severely restricted. This latest move, targeting Afghan women’s employment in NGOs, adds to a growing list of discriminatory policies. The Taliban’s decree orders both national and international NGOs to stop employing Afghan women or risk losing their licenses. These actions could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis in the country, where more than half of the population lives in poverty. NGOs play an essential role in delivering life-saving assistance to all Afghans, including women and girls.
Volker Turk expressed deep concern, emphasizing the impact this ban will have on vulnerable communities. “No country can progress politically, economically, or socially while excluding half of its population from public life,” he stated. He urged the Taliban to reconsider these actions and reverse their decisions that deny women and girls access to education, work, and essential services, including healthcare.
The Taliban’s actions also extend to other public spaces, where Afghan women are being increasingly marginalized. Women have been banned from attending school beyond the primary level, and restrictions have been imposed on their movement, public places, and employment. The UN continues to push for change, hoping the Taliban will choose a different path for the future of Afghanistan.
