Karen Decker, the U.S. chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, criticized the Taliban’s two-year ban on women working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), describing its impact as “profound” on the lives of countless people.
December 24 marks the second anniversary of the ban, which has drawn widespread international condemnation. In a post on X, Ms. Decker emphasized the critical role of women in humanitarian work, stating, “Women are essential to humanitarian efforts, and their exclusion only deepens Afghanistan’s ongoing crisis.”
Ms. Decker stressed that Afghanistan’s future stability and prosperity are unattainable without the contributions of women and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting Afghan women.
The anniversary comes as Afghanistan faces mounting barriers to humanitarian aid delivery. On December 18, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported significant access challenges in November, with 164 incidents—a 56 percent increase from the previous month and an 11 percent rise compared to the same period last year.
According to the report, 99 percent of these access constraints were linked to actions by the Taliban. The incidents were concentrated in the Southern, Central Highlands, Western, and Central regions, accounting for 67 percent of the cases.
These restrictions forced the temporary suspension of 72 humanitarian projects, the permanent termination of two initiatives, and the closure of one facility.
The report also highlighted additional restrictions affecting humanitarian operations. Five incidents in November involved movement constraints, including three related to Taliban checkpoints, one requiring a male guardian (mahram) for female staff, and another enforcing dress codes for women.
The Taliban’s policies have drawn sharp criticism for hindering humanitarian efforts at a time when millions of Afghans face severe food insecurity and economic hardship.
