RASC News Agency: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has raised concerns over the escalating restrictions imposed on female employees in non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In a survey released on Tuesday, Dec 31, OCHA revealed that a growing number of Afghanistani women are no longer permitted to work from offices or engage in field operations. The findings indicate that earlier this year, women were allowed to travel to service locations; however, the Taliban have now completely barred them from such activities. Despite this, OCHA noted that healthcare organizations have not experienced significant disruptions in their operations.
According to the survey, 64% of women were able to travel for humanitarian purposes in September. This figure has since plummeted to 52%. OCHA attributed this decline to the Taliban’s enforcement of the “Commanding Good and Forbidding Evil” law, which has emerged as a significant barrier to women’s professional participation. Moreover, the survey revealed that 43% of humanitarian organizations reported instances where female employees were forced to resign due to the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive decrees. In a recent escalation, the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy, following direct orders from the group’s leader, reiterated its warning to international organizations, prohibiting them from employing women and barring their presence in office environments.
Previously, women were allowed to work remotely for external organizations from their homes. However, the Taliban have now outlawed even remote work, further eroding opportunities for women to contribute to humanitarian efforts or sustain their livelihoods. These measures represent a significant blow to the already limited participation of Afghanistani women in the public and professional spheres.
