UNITED NATIONS/KABUL: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a ban by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Afghan women working for the UN. He called the move an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights and sought the decision’s immediate revocation.
The UN has told around 3,300 Afghan staff, of which as many as 400 are female, not to report to their offices until further notice due to security concerns. Some 600 staff from other countries and working in the country are not affected by the ban.
UN Security Council to discuss situation on Friday
The UN Security Council is set to deliberate upon the situation behind closed doors on Friday, diplomats stated.
Taliban administration officials did not respond to requests for comment by Reuters.
The administration maintains that it respects women’s rights.
Top UN officials in Kabul met with Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on Wednesday after the Taliban administration hinted on Tuesday that they were set to enforce a ban on Afghan women working for the UN.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN’s deputy envoy in Afghanistan and the humanitarian aid coordinator, said that Muttaqi told them the move was an expansion of an order issued in December 2022 that stopped Afghan women from working for aid groups.
UNITED NATIONS/KABUL: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a ban by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Afghan women working for the UN. He called the move an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights and sought the decision’s immediate revocation.
The UN has told around 3,300 Afghan staff, of which as many as 400 are female, not to report to their offices until further notice due to security concerns. Some 600 staff from other countries and working in the country are not affected by the ban.
UN Security Council to discuss situation on Friday
The UN Security Council is set to deliberate upon the situation behind closed doors on Friday, diplomats stated.
Taliban administration officials did not respond to requests for comment by Reuters.
The administration maintains that it respects women’s rights.
Top UN officials in Kabul met with Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on Wednesday after the Taliban administration hinted on Tuesday that they were set to enforce a ban on Afghan women working for the UN.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN’s deputy envoy in Afghanistan and the humanitarian aid coordinator, said that Muttaqi told them the move was an expansion of an order issued in December 2022 that stopped Afghan women from working for aid groups.
