Government to shut down foreign, local NGOs employing women
The Taliban has announced it will shut down all national and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan that employ women, marking the latest move in a series of actions restricting women’s rights since their return to power.
The decision follows a 2022 directive ordering NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women, citing concerns about their adherence to the Islamic headscarf requirement.
A letter from the Ministry of Economy, published Sunday night on X, warned NGOs that failing to comply with this new mandate would result in the revocation of their operating licenses in Afghanistan.
The United Nations has condemned the increasing restrictions on women in Afghanistan, stating that these measures severely hinder the ability to provide essential humanitarian assistance.
“This really impacts how we can provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to all the people in Afghanistan,” said UN associate spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez.
“We are very concerned by the fact that we are talking about a country where half the population’s rights are being denied and are living in poverty, and many of them, not just women, are facing a humanitarian crisis.”
The Ministry of Economy reiterated its responsibility for overseeing all national and foreign NGO activities, including registration, coordination, and supervision.
The latest directive orders the cessation of female employment in institutions not controlled by the Taliban, with institutions failing to comply face the cancellation of their operating licenses. This move is part of the Taliban’s broader efforts to control NGO operations.
Earlier this month, the UN Security Council was briefed on the growing difficulties faced by Afghan women in humanitarian roles, with increasing reports of female staff being blocked by the Taliban’s morality police despite the critical need for relief work.
The Taliban has consistently denied claims of interference with aid organisations and their operations. However, the group has already barred women from many jobs, public spaces, and education beyond the sixth grade.
Read also: Customs seizes 2 tons of pangolin scales, cracks down on trafficking network
In another development, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree requiring new buildings to be constructed without windows overlooking areas where women might be present.
The decree also applies to existing buildings, requiring property owners to obscure such views with barriers like walls, fences, or screens. The United Nations has again called for the reversal of this measure.
The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing has yet to comment on the implementation of this new decree.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
