Two days after reports emerged about Taliban ban on women’s medical education, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned on Wednesday that the directive will have a “detrimental impact” on Afghanistan’s healthcare system and overall development.
UNAMA said it is working to verify the directive through formal channels and that if enforced, the ban would further curtail women’s rights to education and healthcare, exacerbating existing challenges in the country’s medical sector.
The mission urged the Taliban to reconsider the policy, highlighting its far-reaching consequences for Afghan women, girls, and the nation’s broader population.
Afghanistan is already experiencing an acute shortage of female medical professionals, and additional restrictions could deepen the crisis, particularly for women dependent on female healthcare providers.
The ban is the latest in a series of measures by the Taliban that have systematically rolled back women’s rights. Previous restrictions include bans on secondary and higher education for girls and the exclusion of women from most forms of employment.
UNAMA reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights of women and girls, calling on the Taliban to align their policies with international human rights obligations.
