The UN Security Council asks the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women

• The most recent restrictions, according to UN Secretary, “must be lifted”.
• Taliban have outlawed women’s participation in higher education and employment by NGOs.
• At least five prominent NGOs suspended operations in Afghanistan.

The Taliban government’s actions in Afghanistan that target women and girls have been condemned by the UN Security Council.

Within the past week, the Taliban have outlawed women’s participation in higher education and employment by NGOs.

The Security Council’s 15 members expressed “grave worry” over the growing barriers to women’s education.

The most recent restrictions, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “must be lifted.”

The Council urged “full, equitable, and meaningful engagement of women and girls in Afghanistan” in a statement.

The Taliban were encouraged to “reopen schools and promptly remove these policies and practises, which represent a continuing deterioration of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” according to the statement.

According to the UN, among others, the prohibition on female humanitarian workers “would have a major and immediate impact on humanitarian activities in country.”

The most recent restrictions, according to Mr. Guterres, “unjustifiable human rights breaches.”

He stated on Twitter that “actions to silence and exclude women and girls continue to cause great misery and significant impediments to the potential of the Afghan people.”

After the Taliban regime forbade women from working with them, at least five prominent NGOs suspended operations in Afghanistan.

Without their “female personnel,” Care International, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and Save the Children stated that they could not continue their work.

The International Rescue Committee likewise halted operations, while Islamic Relief announced it was ceasing the majority of its operations.

Five ladies who were participating in a demonstration against the prohibition on women attending school were detained by the Taliban last week in Kabul. Additionally, three journalists were detained.

Despite saying their reign would be gentler than the one experienced in the 1990s, the Taliban have systematically weakened women’s rights since regaining control of the nation last year.

In addition to the prohibitions on NGO employees and female university students, which are now being enforced by armed guards, secondary schools for girls are still shut down in the majority of regions.

In addition, women have been denied access to parks and gyms, among other public spaces.

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