KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has warned that the Taliban’s ban on women pursuing medical education threatens the health and survival of countless women and children.
In its latest restriction on women’s rights, the Taliban has barred female students from attending medical institutions in Afghanistan. The ban was announced by an official from the regime’s Ministry of Public Health during a meeting with the heads of medical institutes in Kabul on Monday, December 2.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 4, the Swedish Committee said the decision is deeply concerning, given Afghan cultural norms that limit the treatment of women by male doctors.
“Without more women health professionals being trained, the already critical shortage of female doctors, nurses, and midwives will worsen, threatening the health and survival of countless women and children,” SCA said, adding that the ban will lead to preventable deaths and a reversal of hard-won gains in public health.
The organization urged the Taliban to immediately lift the ban and invest in quality education for female health professionals. It also called on the international community to find ways to support Afghan women and their crucial role in healthcare.
The Taliban’s latest restriction on women’s rights has sparked widespread reaction and condemnation, including from the UN, the EU, rights groups, political figures, and activists both within and outside the country. All have called for the revocation of the ban.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern about the decision, adding that if implemented, it would have a “detrimental impact” on Afghanistan’s healthcare system and a negative effect on the lives of Afghans. He urged the Taliban to reconsider the ban.
In a post on X today, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, called the decision “inexplicable and unjustifiable,” noting that it further violates women’s rights and will have a devastating impact on the entire population. He stated that the ban must be reversed.
Similarly, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that if the new directive is implemented, it will have a “detrimental impact” on Afghanistan’s healthcare system and the country’s overall development. UNAMA said that although it has not yet received formal confirmation of the ban, it will continue to verify the report through official channels.
