By: Rukhshana Media
The Taliban’s ban on women working at national and international NGOs in Afghanistan has triggered a widespread reaction. Some international NGOs and countries’ representatives have called the decision “cruel”.
The Taliban announced the decision in a letter on Saturday evening, December 24.
US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomast West called the decision “profoundly irresponsible”.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called the ban a drawback. “With further restrictions on access to work + education, they face heightened risk to their safety and well-being,” the organization tweeted. “Afghanistan cannot move forward without its women + girls.”
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the organization is “deeply concerned” by the reports.
OCHA has emphasized that the participation of women should be respected and protected and that the decision harms the most vulnerable members of society, which are women and girls.
Moreover, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote in a tweet the Taliban has decided to destroy the future of the country by destroying the future of girls and women in Afghanistan.
She added that the Taliban may try to erase women from society, but they will not succeed. The world is watching.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called the decision “devastating for Afghan people”.
He said that he is deeply concerned about the Taliban’s ban on women from working for NGOs.
In addition, Rina Amiri U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights the Taliban’s decision “cruel & callous”.
“The Taliban are jeopardizing Afghan lives and pushing the country further down a perilous path,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S Mission to Afghanistan Karen B. Decker said that “as the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan” she feels she has the right to ask for an explanation.
“How the Taliban intends to prevent the women and children from starving,” she tweeted. “When women are no longer permitted to distribute assistance to other women and children.”
In response to Ms. Decker’s statement, the Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid said in a tweet that the Islamic Emirate does not “allow anyone to talk rubbish or make threats regarding the decisions of our leaders under the title of humanitarian aid.”
Following the announcement, NRC, Save the Children and Care suspended their activities in Afghanistan and said they cannot reach the women, children, and men in desperate humanitarian needs without their female employees.
The Taliban order banning women from working in NGOs comes days after they banned female university students from attending their classes across the country.
The order says that any organization found not complying with the order will have its license revoked in Afghanistan.
