New York, USA – The United Nations has condemned a recent directive by Afghanistan’s Taliban government that threatens non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with licence revocation if they continue to employ Afghan women.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk described the move as “absolutely the wrong path” and called for the immediate reversal of the “deeply discriminatory decree”. Turk emphasised that the policy undermines efforts to address Afghanistan’s severe humanitarian crisis, where NGOs play a vital role in assisting the population.

The ban, which dates back to December 2022, was reinforced on Sunday through a circular issued by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy. The Taliban’s restrictions on women since reclaiming power in 2021 have faced international condemnation, with girls barred from education beyond primary school and women excluded from most jobs and public spaces.

Turk warned that no nation could achieve progress while excluding half its population from public life. He called on the Taliban to revoke all measures limiting women’s access to education, healthcare, and employment, describing them as a threat to Afghanistan’s future.

The international community faces a challenging balance between engaging with the Taliban to encourage change and maintaining a firm stance on fundamental rights. Despite Taliban claims of issuing thousands of work permits to women since their return to power, the reality remains stark for many, with restrictions extending even to public singing and poetry recitals.

The UN has urged the Taliban to reconsider these policies, stressing that the country’s recovery depends on empowering all its citizens, regardless of gender.