The United Nations has urged Taliban authorities to immediately lift a new ban preventing Afghan women from working inside its compounds, warning the measure is jeopardizing life-saving aid operations across the country.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement that the restrictions endanger humanitarian relief for hundreds of thousands of people, including survivors of last month’s deadly earthquake.
On Sunday, de facto security forces barred Afghan women staff and contractors from entering UN offices in Kabul. The ban quickly spread nationwide after Taliban leadership issued written and verbal orders. Armed personnel have since appeared at entrances to UN compounds in Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif to enforce compliance.
“This is particularly concerning in view of continuing restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls,” UNAMA said.
Since seizing power four years ago, the Taliban have steadily stripped women of public life — banning girls from secondary education and excluding women from most professions, including humanitarian work. The latest restrictions now prevent female UN staff from traveling to field sites or supporting displaced Afghan women and girls.
The move has already disrupted critical services. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported it had to suspend operations at returnee centers serving Afghans forced back from Iran and Pakistan. “It is not possible to interview and collect information for the 52 percent of returnee women, without female staff,” UNHCR said. More than 2.4 million people have returned to Afghanistan this year alone.
UN officials stressed that barring female staff violates established agreements that allowed the organization to deliver aid through “a culturally sensitive and principled approach.” They also noted the measures breach international conventions protecting the movement and operations of UN personnel.
Negotiations with Taliban authorities are ongoing, but UN agencies say they are now forced to make temporary operational adjustments to keep aid flowing.
