GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday said Afgha­nistan’s governing Tal­iban authorities must rev­erse their ban on Afghan women working for NGOs.

“I am deeply alarmed at the recent announcement by the de facto auth­orities in Afghan­istan that non-governmental org­a­nisa­tions’ lic­e­n­ces will be revoked if they continue to employ Afghan women. This is absolutely the wrong path being taken,” Turk said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Tali­ban’s economy ministry wrote to ACBAR, the Age­n­cy Coordi­n­ating Body for Afghan Relief and Devel­opment which brings toge­ther around 200 NGOs, tel­ling them to comply with a decree issued two years ago which bars them from empl­oying Afghan women.

“A follow-up circular has been issued to stop the work of female employees in dom­estic and foreign non-governmental institutions. In case of non-cooperation, all activities of the offending institution will be suspended and the operation licence they had received from this ministry will be cancelled,” it said.

On Sunday, ACBAR met with the ministry and said afterwards that fem­ale workers in health and education would be exe­m­pt and those working online could continue as normal.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2025