On December 26, Afghanistan’s de facto Ministry of Economy issued a measure enforcing a two-year-old decree that prohibits women from working with national and international NGOs.
In his statement, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned of the decree’s devastating consequences on the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid in a nation where more than half the population lives in poverty. He underscored the vital role NGOs play in providing life-saving assistance to millions of Afghans, including women, men, and children.
“This is absolutely the wrong path,” Türk said, urging the de facto authorities to overturn what he referred to as a “deeply discriminatory decree.”
Women’s Rights Under Attack
Since taking power, Afghanistan’s de facto leadership has systematically restricted the rights of women and girls, denying them access to education, employment, healthcare, and freedom of movement. The latest restrictions on NGO employment further contribute to the erasure of women from public life, jeopardizing Afghanistan’s path toward progress.
“No country can advance—politically, economically, or socially—while excluding half of its population from public life,” Türk stressed.
A Call to Change Course
The High Commissioner called on Afghanistan’s leaders to reassess their policies, emphasizing that reversing these measures is crucial not only for the rights of women and girls but also for the nation’s future.
Türk highlighted the broader impact of these policies on the global community, noting that excluding women from public life deepens poverty and hinders efforts to build a stable, resilient society.
“For the future of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities must change course,” he concluded.
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