The United Nations has called on the Taliban to immediately lift the ban on Afghan women working for the organization and end restrictions imposed on women and girls.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said in a statement on Sunday, September 6, that the Taliban’s discriminatory policies have affected all aspects of the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan, posing a major obstacle to the country’s economic development and stability.
Guterres said restrictions on education, employment, and women’s participation in public life violate their fundamental rights and make Afghanistan’s return to the international community more difficult.
The UN Secretary-General stressed that unhindered access for the organization’s staff to their workplaces is essential for delivering humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls.
Guterres called on the Taliban to ensure safe and unhindered access for women to UN facilities and allow women to play a role in delivering humanitarian assistance and essential services to women and girls.
