January 1st 2025.
The Taliban recently announced their decision to shut down all national and foreign non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan that employ women. This is just the latest in a series of actions taken by the Taliban to restrict women's rights since they came into power in August of 2021. It has been two years since they first ordered NGOs to stop hiring Afghan women, citing their failure to adhere to Islamic dress codes as the reason.
In a letter published on Sunday night, the Economy Ministry warned that NGOs who do not comply with this new order will risk losing their license to operate in Afghanistan. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the shrinking space for women's rights in Afghanistan in the last two years and has urged the Taliban to reverse these restrictions. Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, the UN's associate spokesperson, stated that this will greatly impact their ability to provide life-saving aid to the people of Afghanistan, particularly women who are already facing poverty and a humanitarian crisis.
The Economy Ministry has claimed responsibility for overseeing and regulating the activities of both national and foreign organizations in Afghanistan. Their letter stated that all female employees in institutions not controlled by the Taliban must be stopped from working immediately. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of the institution's activity license. This is just the latest attempt by the Taliban to control and interfere with the work of NGOs.
The UN Security Council was recently informed that an increasing number of female humanitarian workers in Afghanistan are being prevented from carrying out their work, despite the critical need for relief efforts. According to senior UN official Tom Fletcher, there has also been a rise in reports of the Taliban's morality police stopping female and male staff from carrying out their duties. However, the Taliban denies these allegations and claims that they do not interfere with aid agencies.
Women in Afghanistan are already barred from certain jobs and public spaces, and are also excluded from education beyond sixth grade. In a new decree issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, it is now forbidden for buildings to have windows that overlook areas where women may be present. This includes places like yards and kitchens. The UN has called for this restriction to be reversed, as it further limits women's rights and freedoms.
The four-clause decree, which was posted on Saturday, also states that any existing buildings with such windows must find a way to block the view in order to "remove harm." This can be done by installing walls, fences, or screens. The decree also requires that municipalities and other authorities supervise the construction of new buildings to ensure that they do not have windows that look into residential properties. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing was not available for comment on Akhundzada's instructions.
In addition to these restrictions on women's rights, the Taliban has also ordered that all NGOs employing women must shut down. This is a major blow to the humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, and the UN has expressed deep concern for the well-being of the Afghan people, especially women, who are already facing a dire situation. Stay updated on the latest news by downloading the 9NEWS app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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