UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Ban on Women Entering UN Offices in Afghanistan
Several United Nations experts have reported that Afghan women, including local employees, contractors, and visitors, continue to be barred from entering UN offices in Afghanistan. They say this restriction is severely disrupting humanitarian aid operations.
The experts emphasized that in Afghan society, the delivery of many services—especially in health, aid distribution, and social support—requires the direct presence of women to attend to women’s needs. They believe the absence of female staff has caused critical activities, particularly in response to natural disasters and support programs, to be carried out ineffectively.
In their statement, the experts noted that these restrictions not only violate the right of women to work and participate professionally but also jeopardize the lives of women and girls who depend on these services. They warned that women and girls bear the brunt of these limitations.
The UN experts have also called on UN agencies to adopt a coordinated and unified stance to ensure safe and suitable working conditions for women in Afghanistan. According to them, despite facing extensive challenges, Afghan women continue to play an active role in serving their communities and require a secure, non-discriminatory environment to continue their work.
However, the Taliban administration has so far not responded to the concerns and requests made by UN experts. This ongoing situation persists amid repeated criticism from international organizations and human rights defenders, who consider the imposed restrictions on women’s work and social presence one of the main obstacles to effective humanitarian aid delivery in Afghanistan.
