UN Urges Taliban to Lift Ban on Women Working in Afghanistan

The United Nations Women’s Agency has stated that the continued ban on female staff entering the UN offices in Afghanistan has severely disrupted aid delivery and must be lifted urgently. The agency emphasized that without female employees, it is impossible to reach women and girls in various parts of the country.

In a statement released on Saturday, 6 March, it was noted that six months have passed since the Taliban administration imposed this restriction. According to the UN, such a ban is unprecedented in the organization’s 80-year history and hinders the effective implementation of humanitarian missions.

The UN stressed that excluding women from workplaces not only reduces service capacity but also ignores the needs of half of Afghanistan’s population. This comes as Afghanistan continues to struggle with widespread humanitarian and economic crises and remains highly dependent on international aid.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan women and declared it will stand alongside them. However, the ongoing restrictions by the Taliban on women’s work and activities have drawn widespread domestic and international criticism and heightened concerns about the future of women’s social and professional participation.