The Taliban’s continued crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan has escalated with new directives targeting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public spaces. These measures threaten humanitarian aid operations and deepen the gender-based segregation that has defined Taliban rule since their return to power in August 2021.
Ban on Women in NGOs
On Sunday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy issued a directive to all national and international NGOs, warning that any organization employing Afghan women would lose its operating license. This builds on a 2021 order prohibiting NGOs from hiring women, ostensibly to enforce compliance with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic dress codes.
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UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the move, describing it as “absolutely the wrong path being taken.” He warned that the decree would severely impact Afghanistan’s already dire humanitarian situation, where over half the population lives in poverty. NGOs play a critical role in delivering life-saving aid, especially to women and children, who often rely on female staff for access to services like healthcare and education.
Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, a UN spokesperson, echoed Turk’s concerns, highlighting that the ban would hinder efforts to provide essential humanitarian assistance to a population in crisis.
Humanitarian Aid at Risk
Humanitarian organizations depend on female staff to reach vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. The new directive jeopardizes these efforts, leaving many aid programs unable to operate effectively. For example, female healthcare workers are often the only means by which Afghan women and girls can access medical care, given cultural restrictions.
The UN has warned that the Taliban’s policies are exacerbating Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis. A growing number of humanitarian workers—both male and female—have reported being blocked from performing their duties, further limiting the reach of aid programs.
Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan
Since taking power, the Taliban has systematically erased women from public life, prompting the UN to denounce their governance as “gender apartheid.” Women are barred from post-primary education, restricted from most forms of employment, and excluded from parks and other public spaces.
In addition to the NGO restrictions, recent Taliban decrees impose strict limitations on women’s visibility. A new order requires that buildings be constructed or modified to prevent windows from overlooking areas where women might be present, such as yards or kitchens. Property owners must obscure such views with walls, fences, or screens.
Cultural and Social Controls
The Taliban has also issued laws prohibiting women from singing or reciting poetry in public. Some radio and television stations have stopped broadcasting female voices altogether. These measures are part of a broader effort to impose the group’s ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic law on all aspects of Afghan society.
Despite international condemnation, the Taliban defends its actions as necessary for maintaining social norms and public safety. They claim that thousands of women have been issued work permits since their takeover, though these permits are limited to a narrow range of occupations that align with their strict gender segregation policies.
International Response
The international community has expressed outrage at the Taliban’s latest measures. UN officials, including Volker Turk, have called on the Taliban to reverse these decrees and allow women to participate fully in public life. “No country can progress—politically, economically, or socially—while excluding half of its population from public life,” Turk said, urging the Taliban to change course.
Humanitarian organizations are struggling to find ways to continue their operations under the restrictive environment. Many have warned that the Taliban’s policies will not only harm women but also deepen the suffering of men and boys who depend on aid programs.
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The Taliban’s escalating restrictions on women’s rights have drawn widespread condemnation, but little progress has been made in reversing these policies. As Afghanistan faces a severe humanitarian crisis, the exclusion of women from public life and the workforce threatens to push the country further into economic and social collapse.