On December 26, the Ministry of Economy, under the country’s de facto Taliban administration, announced the implementation of its two-year-old official order on the matter, which prohibits Afghan women from working in national and international non-governmental organizations. Restrictions are imposed.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the order will have a profound impact on humanitarian aid efforts to reach Afghanistan’s neediest populations.
More than half of Afghanistan’s population lives in poverty and a large number of people are dependent on humanitarian aid.
The OHCHR chief noted that non-governmental organizations play a critical role in the survival of millions of people in Afghanistan, providing life-saving assistance to women, men and children. He fumed that “this is completely wrong,” and a highly discriminatory government order.
Attack on women’s rights
Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls have been deprived of their basic rights.
Girls are excluded from secondary education and women are already banned from attending university.
Women and girls are banned from visiting amusement parks, public bathrooms, gyms, sports clubs and dress codes for women and girls are strictly enforced in the country. They are not allowed to travel long distances without a male companion.
The UN office expressed concern that the order banning Afghan women from working in the private sector would erase women from public life, hindering the country’s progress.
Volker Turk emphasized that a country cannot prosper politically, economically and socially until half of its population is excluded from public life.
Application for reconsideration
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Afghan leaders to reconsider their decisions and paths, not only for the sake of women and girls, but also for the country’s future.
He warned that these policies would also have consequences for Afghanistan’s relations with the wider world community.
“For Afghanistan’s future, the administration must change course.”
He said that restricting women’s participation in public life increases poverty and hinders efforts to build a stable and strong society.