Several groups providing aid in Afghanistan have suspended operations, after the Taliban ruled that women could no longer work for NGOs, effective immediately.
December 24, the Taliban said the ban on female employees This is because some people don’t follow the Taliban’s interpretation of the Muslim dress code for women.
Save The Children, CARE and the Norwegian Refugee Council all say they cannot work effectively with women and children without female staff.
In a joint statement, the trio said: “Without the women driving our response, we will not be reaching the millions of Afghans in need together as of August 2021.
“In addition to the impact on the delivery of life-saving assistance, this will affect thousands of jobs in the midst of a massive economic crisis.
“While we are well aware of this announcement, we are suspending our programs, asking that men and women can continue to support our lives in Afghanistan equally.”
The TalibanThe Economy Ministry said it had received “serious complaints” about female employees not wearing headscarves or headscarves “properly”.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned by the Taliban’s move, adding: “The United Nations and its partners, including national and international NGOs, are helping more than 28 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid to survive.”
It is not clear whether the ban, announced in a letter and confirmed by the Ministry of Economy, applies to foreign women or those working for the United Nations, which has a significant presence in the country. or not.
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Afghan women call on the world for help
The economy ministry said the ban applies to Afghanistanthe coordinating body of humanitarian organizations, known as the ACBAR, which does not include the United Nations.
However, the United Nations contracts with NGOs that are part of ACBAR in Afghanistan to carry out its humanitarian work.
The United Nations has said it hopes to meet with the Taliban to seek clarity on the issue, with Ramiz Alakbarov, their deputy special representative in Afghanistan and humanitarian coordinator, adding most of the work of the United Nations. they in this country are all done by NGOs.
“Many of our programs will be affected and we won’t be able to do them because, unless we involve female staff in the humanitarian needs assessment, identifying people,” he said. beneficiaries, aid delivery and aid distribution – we wouldn’t be able to do them.”
This ban was introduced a few days after Afghan women were stop going to college by the Taliban, a move that international condemnation.
