The Taliban has escalated its crackdown on women’s rights, announcing the closure of all NGOs in Afghanistan employing Afghan women. The latest decree, issued by the Ministry of Economy, warns that any NGO found hiring women will lose its license, intensifying the group’s drive toward gender segregation since seizing power in August 2021.
This decision comes two years after the Taliban first suspended women’s employment in NGOs, citing alleged violations of Islamic dress codes. Now, the ban extends further, targeting both local and international organisations, reinforcing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The United Nations has voiced grave concern over the directive, warning it will cripple efforts to deliver critical aid to a nation already facing severe poverty and humanitarian challenges. “This will severely hinder life-saving assistance for the Afghan people,” said UN spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez.
Female staff are vital for reaching women and children—the majority of aid recipients in Afghanistan. Without their involvement, organisations will struggle to provide healthcare, education, and other essential services.
Volker Turk, the UN’s human rights chief, condemned the ban, calling it “a disastrous step” that deepens the country’s crisis. “Denying women’s participation in aid delivery undermines humanitarian efforts for all Afghans,” he said.
New Restrictions on Women’s Visibility
In a separate decree, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhund Zada mandated that buildings must obscure windows overlooking areas where women may be present. Property owners are required to block such views with walls or screens, further isolating women from public life.
Critics argue these measures reflect an extreme attempt to control women’s presence and visibility, entrenching gender-based segregation and curtailing their freedoms.
The Taliban’s Justification
The Taliban maintains that all institutions, domestic or foreign, must align with its religious directives. This latest move, officials claim, enforces their interpretation of Islamic law, despite widespread international condemnation.
Previously, the Taliban barred women from higher education, most public jobs, and even access to parks. The current ban on female NGO workers further excludes women from playing an active role in Afghan society.
Implications for Aid Work
NGOs now face an impossible dilemma: comply with the Taliban’s rules or cease operations entirely, leaving millions of vulnerable Afghans without support. Female humanitarian workers, already sidelined by earlier restrictions, face heightened barriers in delivering aid to women and children in need.
The UN has highlighted that this policy harms men and boys as well, as aid programs often serve entire communities. With over half of Afghanistan’s population living in poverty, the ban is expected to worsen the nation’s dire humanitarian situation.
As the Taliban tightens its grip, global leaders and organizations are urging a reversal of policies that further alienate Afghan women and threaten the survival of millions reliant on humanitarian aid.
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