Susan Ferguson, the United Nations’ special representative for women in Afghanistan, has called for the preservation of humanitarian services in the country through the continued involvement of Afghan women.
In a statement released by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ms. Ferguson described Afghan women working in aid organizations as “courageous,” and emphasized their critical role in delivering life-saving support.
“They continue to deliver essential aid,” Ms. Ferguson said. “We must stand with Afghan women to preserve these life-saving services.”
Her remarks come amid growing restrictions on female aid workers under Taliban rule. The de facto authorities have imposed stringent limitations on women’s employment in U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations, significantly curtailing their access and participation in humanitarian work.
According to a recent OCHA report, at least 29 humanitarian workers — most of them women — have been detained and harassed by Taliban authorities in recent months.
Rights advocates and U.N. officials warn that the increasing suppression of women’s roles in the humanitarian sector not only undermines relief efforts but further isolates vulnerable communities from critical assistance.
