After banning girls from universities, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration ordered all native and overseas NGOs to cease feminine workers from working.
A Taliban fighter is seen on the Taliban flag-raising ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 31, 2022. (Reuters photograph)
By India Today Web Desk: The Taliban rulers on Saturday ordered native and worldwide non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan to right away ban feminine employees from coming to work “until further notice.”
The economy ministry spokesperson Abdulrahman Habib, in a letter, said female employees of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were not allowed to work until further notice as some of the organisations were not adhering to a mandatory Islamic hijab or dress code for their female staff, in line with instructions by the Taliban administration, according to the letter.
This comes days after the administration ordered to ban women from universities, sparking international condemnation.
READ: Taliban minister defends ban on women’s university studies
Both decisions are likely to undermine the Taliban-run administration’s efforts to gain international recognition and clear sanctions that are severely hampering the economy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter he was “deeply involved” and the move “will disrupt very important and life-saving help to thousands and thousands,” adding: “Women are central to humanitarian operations around the globe. This determination might be devastating for the Afghan individuals.”
Deeply involved that the Taliban’s ban on girls delivering humanitarian support in Afghanistan will disrupt very important and life-saving help to thousands and thousands. Women are central to humanitarian operations around the globe. This determination might be devastating for the Afghan individuals.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 24, 2022
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy particular consultant for Afghanistan and humanitarian coordinator, informed Reuters that contracted NGOs carried out most of its actions and “many of UN’s programmes will be affected,” as a result of they want feminine employees to evaluate humanitarian want and determine beneficiaries.
International support company AfghanAssist mentioned it was instantly suspending operations whereas it consulted with different organisations, and that different NGOs have been taking related actions.
The potential endangerment of support programmes that thousands and thousands of Afghans entry comes when greater than half the inhabitants depends on humanitarian support, in accordance with support companies.
“There’s never a right time for anything like this … but this particular time is very unfortunate because during winter time people are most in need and Afghan winters are very harsh,” mentioned Alakbarov.
He mentioned his workplace would seek the advice of with NGOs and UN companies on Sunday and search to fulfill with Taliban authorities for an evidence.
Female staff are important in a rustic the place guidelines and cultural customs largely stop male staff from delivering support to feminine beneficiaries.
Habib mentioned the letter utilized to organisations underneath Afghanistan’s coordinating physique for humanitarian organisations, generally known as ACBAR. That physique doesn’t embrace the UN, however consists of over 180 native and worldwide NGOs. Their licences could be suspended if they didn’t comply.
PROTESTS AGAINST UNIVERSITY BAN
Women staged protest in Kabul in opposition to the Taliban’s order that banned feminine college students from pursuing greater training. The protesters demanded girls’s entry to training and work.
The heroic girls of Afghanistan out on the streets of Herat at this time to protest in opposition to the Taliban’s BAN on feminine college students going to college. They scream “cowards” on the Taliban.
The Taliban fireplace water canons on the protesters. pic.twitter.com/9O34xFFbf6
— Shabnam Nasimi (@NasimiShabnam) December 24, 2022
Taliban forces exterior 4 Kabul universities stopped girls from getting into, whereas permitting others to go in and end their work. They additionally tried to stop any images, filming and protests from happening.
Members of an activist group known as the Unity and Solidarity of Afghanistan Women gathered exterior the personal Edrak University in Kabul on Wednesday morning, chanting slogans in Dari. Taliban fighters fired water canons on the protesters, as seen in visuals from the protest web site.
THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
Afghanistan’s struggling economic system has tipped into disaster for the reason that Taliban took over in 2021, with the nation dealing with sanctions, cuts in growth support and a freeze in central financial institution belongings.
A report 28 million Afghans are estimated to want humanitarian support subsequent 12 months, in accordance with AfghanAssist.
(With inputs from companies)
Published On:
Dec 25, 2022