On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed demanded the Taliban justify its ban on female employees working at the international organisation’s missions and agencies in Afghanistan.
The UN’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has 3,900 staff, of which 600 are Afghan women, and 200 are women from other countries.
Overview
Guterres said the ban violates the Taliban’s international human rights obligations and goes against the principles of non-discrimination.
He added that the women employees of the UNAMA were “essential” for its operations, which included delivering life-saving supplies and assistance. The decision will “harm the Afghan people,” the chief added.
Similarly, Mohammed stressed that both women and men are “essential” to the UN’s work in Afghanistan. She further said that the organisation was “taking all possible measures” to support its local female staff, who will continue to receive their salaries until further notification. However, they have been urged not to report to the office.
Banning Afghan women from working with the UN in Afghanistan is an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 5, 2023
I call on the Taliban to immediately revoke this decision & reverse all measures restricting women’s & girls’ rights to work, education & freedom of movement.
To this end, Guterres has called on the Taliban to revoke its decision, along with other restrictions on women’s freedom of movement and right to education and work.
The UN officials also condemned the erosion of women’s rights since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The group has already barred women from accessing education, working for non-governmental organisations, and entering public gyms and parks.
Other UN Officials Speak Out
Other UN officials also voiced their opposition to the decision. For instance, President of the UN General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi called the move a “blatant violation” that will impact the “most vulnerable segments of the population.” He added that the country needs to work on ensuring sustainable development to make use of its full potential.
Similarly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the Taliban’s decision an “utterly despicable” move that would “incapacitate, intimidate, and harass half of the population.” He called on the group to reevaluate the decision “for the sake of the future of the country.”
TB decision to ban #Afghanwomen UN staff from working is another gross violation of their fundamental right to non-disc, is against UN Charter & will seriously impact essential services for#Afghans. Women staff are essential. I urge #Taliban to reverse the decision immediately.
— UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett (@SR_Afghanistan) April 4, 2023
Meanwhile, Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous said that her agency would ensure that this does not impact “vital services and support” for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Taliban’s Announcement
The UN officials’ rebuke comes in response to the Taliban’s Tuesday decision that Afghan women will not be allowed to work for UN missions and agencies.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said that the UN mission received an order from the Taliban informing them about the ban. At the time, he said that the UN was looking into the decision’s impact on the operations.
The Taliban’s restrictions “will be actively enforced,” the UNAMA said.
The crisis in Afghanistan is among the world's worst, and the Taliban's actions repeatedly violate UN mandates on human rights, gender equality, and access to education (Res. 1325, 1820, 1889). As UN Secretary-General, you have the power to make a real difference beyond words &… https://t.co/BauthP0TLf
— Mariam Solaimankhil (@Mariamistan) April 4, 2023
In the weeks preceding the announcement, the UN had complained about its staff being prevented from going to their workplaces in Nangarhar.
The Taliban has not released a statement on the decision or officially responded to the UN.