The United Nations has issued an urgent plea to the Taliban authorities, demanding the immediate reversal of a ban preventing Afghan women from working in UN offices. This demand comes amidst grave concerns over the severe negative impact the restriction is having on humanitarian aid and life-saving services in Afghanistan.
Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Country Representative for Afghanistan, strongly condemned the restriction in a statement. She clarified that blocking Afghan women from working in UN offices and field operations directly jeopardizes essential services that are crucial for saving the lives of millions of Afghans.
Ferguson issued a strong warning, stating that “the longer these restrictions remain in place, the greater the threat to life-saving services.” She stressed that Afghan women must be granted safe access to both offices and field sites, arguing that the current restrictions constitute a clear violation of the UN’s fundamental principles of human rights and gender equality.
According to media reports, Taliban officials imposed the ban on female staff entering UN offices in September, severely hampering the global organization’s aid activities. So far, Taliban officials have not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the critical issue.
