The United Nations has called on the Taliban in power in Afghanistan to lift its recently imposed ban on Afghan women working in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The UN has expressed deep concern over the decision, which it believes is a serious step backwards in the fight for equal rights for women in the country, AFP reports.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Afghan women have been gradually pushed out of public life. This has led to the UN repeatedly raising the issue of “gender apartheid policies” being actively implemented in the country.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Wolfgang Turk, said he was “deeply concerned” by the recent decision of the Afghan authorities to revoke the licence of NGOs if they continue to employ women. Turk stressed that such steps lead in a “clearly wrong direction”.
“No country can develop – politically, economically or socially – while excluding half of its population from public life. For the future of Afghanistan, the Taliban must change their policy,” the UN representative stressed.
Currently, the situation in Afghanistan remains critical, with more than half of the population living in extreme poverty and humanitarian organisations playing an important role in providing assistance. However, the new restrictions will seriously affect the ability of NGOs to carry out their work and the ability of Afghans to receive the assistance they need.
Turk also called on the Taliban to repeal this discriminatory decree, as well as all other restrictions that prevent women and girls from accessing education, employment and health services, and violate their rights to freedom of movement.
In addition, other restrictions have recently come into force in the country that significantly limit women’s rights. In particular, they are prohibited from studying beyond primary education, visiting parks, gyms and beauty salons, and leaving the house without a hijab. In recent days, the Taliban have also banned women from singing or reciting poetry, and some local radio and television stations have stopped broadcasting women’s voices.
Furthermore, the Taliban leader recently issued a decree that all windows leading to rooms where women are held must be plastered over, as this could be seen as “disgusting”.
