Taliban order NGOs to ban feminine workers from coming to workYesterday

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration on Saturday ordered all native and overseas non-governmental organizations to cease feminine workers from coming to work, based on an financial system ministry letter, within the newest crackdown on girls’s freedoms.

The letter, confirmed by financial system ministry spokesperson Abdulrahman Habib, mentioned the feminine workers weren’t allowed to work till additional discover as a result of some had not adhered to the administration’s interpretation of Islamic costume code for ladies.

It was not instantly clear whether or not the order utilized to United Nations companies, which have a big presence in Afghanistan.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy particular consultant for Afghanistan and humanitarian co-ordinator, mentioned he was “deeply involved” by stories of the letter, which was a “clear breach of humanitarian rules.”

The UN workplace for humanitarian affairs mentioned the United Nations would attempt to meet with Taliban management to “receive readability on the reported order.”

The Cost D’Affaires for Norway, which funds assist in Afghanistan and hosted talks between Taliban and civil society members in January, condemned the transfer.

“The ban on feminine workers in NGOs should be reversed instantly,” Paul Klouman Bekken tweeted. “Along with being a blow to girls´s rights, this transfer will exacerbate the humanitarian disaster and harm probably the most susceptible Afghans.”

It comes days after the Taliban-run administration ordered universities to shut to girls, prompting sturdy international condemnation and sparking some protests and heavy criticism inside Afghanistan.

When requested whether or not the foundations included UN companies, Habib mentioned the letter utilized to organisations underneath Afghanistan’s coordinating physique for humanitarian organizations, often known as ACBAR. That physique doesn’t embody the United Nations, however consists of greater than 180 native and worldwide NGOs.

Nevertheless, the United Nations usually contracts with NGOs registered in Afghanistan to hold out its humanitarian work.

Support employees say feminine employees are crucial to making sure girls can entry assist.

Afghanistan’s already struggling financial system has tipped into disaster for the reason that Taliban took over in 2021, with the nation dealing with sanctions and cuts in growth assist.

Humanitarian assist, aimed toward assembly pressing wants, has supplied a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Over half of Afghanistan’s inhabitants are reliant on humanitarian assist, based on the Worldwide Rescue Committee.