KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ministry of Economy has issued a strict warning to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), demanding full compliance with its ban on employing women.
In an official letter obtained by KabulNow, the ministry warned that violations would result in the suspension of the organization’s activities and the revoking of its license.
“All domestic and international NGOs are directed to adhere fully to the written directive from this ministry, which mandates the cessation of women’s employment within organizations, and to implement the necessary measures accordingly,” the statement reads.
The decree banning women from working in NGOs, including United Nations offices, was first introduced in December 2022. At the time, the Taliban justified the decision by accusing female staff of breaching dress code regulations, specifically for not wearing hijabs.
The ban has disrupted humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, where NGOs are vital to delivering aid to millions of vulnerable people.
Reports suggest that the Taliban’s supreme leader is considering halting all activities of international organizations in the country, though internal disagreements among Taliban leaders have emerged regarding this potential move.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have effectively erased women from public life. Recently, the Ministry of Public Health prohibited girls from attending medical institutes—the last avenue for women seeking education in healthcare.
These escalating restrictions have drawn widespread international condemnation.
UN experts, legal scholars, and activists argue that the Taliban’s policies constitute a system of apartheid, designed to systematically subjugate women and girls based solely on their gender.
Despite global appeals to reverse these decrees, the Taliban remain steadfast, intensifying measures that deepen the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
