UN human rights experts, including Richard Bennett, called for the immediate lifting of a Taliban ban preventing Afghan women from entering UN offices, warning that the policy is unlawful and is undermining humanitarian operations across the country.
The experts said the restriction — in place since September 2025 — bars Afghan women, including UN staff, contractors and visitors, from accessing UN premises nationwide.
“Barring women from UN offices is a direct attack on women’s rights, including their right to work,” the experts said. “There can be no cultural, religious or administrative justification for this policy.”
They described enforcement measures as severe, noting that armed Taliban personnel have been stationed at UN compounds to prevent women from entering.
The ban is part of a broader set of restrictions imposed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, which have systematically excluded women from public life, including employment, education and civil society activities.
The experts said the consequences were immediate and far-reaching, particularly in a country where humanitarian needs are acute.
“In a society where it is imperative that women deliver services to women, life-saving aid … is being compromised, and women and girls are the primary casualties,” the statement said.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions relying on assistance. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned that restrictions on female staff limit access to vulnerable populations, especially women and children in conservative areas.
The experts called for a unified international response, urging all UN agencies to adopt a common and principled position. They also called on the UN secretary-general to lead a coordinated effort and on member states to apply sustained diplomatic pressure.
“The UN cannot operate effectively — or in accordance with its values and Charter — when women are deliberately and systematically excluded,” they said.
They emphasized that Afghan women continue to serve their communities despite mounting restrictions and risks, and called for stronger international support.
“Standing with Afghan women … is essential to preserving humanitarian action, defending human rights, and safeguarding Afghanistan’s future,” the experts said.
Taliban have not publicly responded to the latest statement, but have previously defended restrictions on women as consistent with their interpretation of Islamic law.
The experts, who serve in an independent capacity, said reversing the ban was essential to restoring basic rights and ensuring the delivery of aid.
