GENEVA — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed alarm on Tuesday over the Taliban’s announcement that the licenses of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Afghanistan would be revoked if they employed women. He called on the Taliban to reconsider what he described as a “deeply discriminatory” policy.
“I am deeply alarmed at the recent announcement by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan that non-governmental organizations’ licenses will be revoked if they continue to employ Afghan women,” Türk said in a statement. “This is absolutely the wrong path being taken by the de facto authorities.”
The announcement, outlined in a letter dated Dec. 26 from the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy, orders both national and international NGOs to adhere to a two-year-old decree barring them from employing Afghan women. The decision follows a cabinet meeting led by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, in Kandahar, a stronghold of the group’s leadership.
Impact on humanitarian assistance
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with more than half of the population living in poverty. NGOs play a vital role in providing life-saving assistance to millions of Afghans, including women and children, Türk noted. The new restrictions, he said, would significantly undermine these efforts.
“I once again urge the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to revoke this deeply discriminatory decree, and all other measures which seek to eradicate women and girls’ access to education, work and public services, including healthcare, and that restrict their freedom of movement,” he added. “For the future of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities must change course.”
The U.N. has warned that the restrictions are already hampering aid efforts in a country where over 23 million people depend on assistance. Female aid workers, often crucial in reaching women and children in need, face growing challenges under Taliban rule.
Exemptions and strained conditions
While the decree reiterates a December 2022 ban on women working in NGOs, certain sectors, including health and education, remain exempt. According to the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR), discussions with the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy have led to measures allowing women in these fields to continue their work under strict conditions:
Remote Work: Women may work online or from home.
Separate Facilities: Employers must provide female staff with separate entrances, rest areas, and prayer spaces.
Dress Code and Escorts: Female employees must wear a full hijab and be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.
Documentation: Employers are required to justify and document the employment of women, particularly in health and education roles.
Despite these exemptions, the overall environment for female workers remains fraught with challenges. In remote areas, women aid workers remain essential to providing services, such as distributing food and administering healthcare.
Healthcare workers, such as those with Médecins Sans Frontières, report that Afghanistan’s fragile medical system is under immense strain. “There are so few medical staff available that some patients waiting for surgery lose their lives,” said Sediqa, a healthcare professional.
Education initiatives have also suffered setbacks. Female teachers employed by NGOs, like the House of Kindness Foundation, continue to provide vital support to vulnerable children. “For these children, we act as parents because their families can’t support them,” said Abdul Qadir Salehi, the foundation’s founder.
Leadership influence in Kandahar
Sources familiar with the Dec. 26 letter said it reflects the influence of a recent meeting in Kandahar, led by Akhundzada and attended by senior Taliban officials. The meeting reinforced the leadership’s intention to tighten control over women’s roles in the workforce, aligning with the group’s conservative governance priorities.
Although the policy is not new, its renewed emphasis underscores the Taliban’s commitment to restricting women’s participation in public life. The U.N.’s Türk reiterated that such measures would only serve to deepen Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and stall its social and economic progress.
“No country can progress — politically, economically or socially — while excluding half of its population from public life,” Türk said.
Türk’s call for the reversal of the restrictions highlights growing international concern over the Taliban’s governance. “For the future of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities must change course,” he concluded.
