From Kabul to Beyond – Afghan Women Who Are Losing Their Identity

“The world is watching us and doing nothing “

said an Afghan women NGO worker interviewee on BBC. 

The Taliban tore apart Islamic principles towards women after seizing control over Kabul in August 2021. And there is no sign of them stopping in 2023, either.

The recent ban on women aid workers is one of the many instances that display the lengths the Taliban can go to oppress Afghan women while the world watches from afar.

Like many lost news, the realities of millions of Afghan women suffering under the autocratic regime have become third-world stories. But, for those of you who still care, here’s how women are surviving in 2023’s Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

Afghan Women Under Fresh Restrictions: Banned Aid Workers

An official letter by the Taliban reached the ministry to refugees in Kandahar decreeing a ban on women working for the United Nations from providing vital humanitarian assistance.

“All partner organizations that are working with the Department of Refugees and Repatriation of Spin Boldak … should ask their female colleagues not to come to their work and stay at home until further notice.”

The letter read

According to the Taliban, the restrictions on women working with UN humanitarians for refugees are sustained as the ministry for refugees in Kandahar is violating orders related to working with refugees.

The ministry said they observed women breaking Sharia law by failing to wear the hijab. However, the UN secretary has condemned such a ban and said, “it would be devastating for Afghan women”.  

Such a ban on women will make it harder for aid organizations to help people in Afghanistan. As women make up almost half of the population of Afghanistan. This ban will not only make life harder for women, but it will also increase suffering for people across Afghanistan.

The Consequences of the Ban on Women Working for NGOs are Far-Reaching. 

According to the source, 28 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance, and such crusades of female restriction will further risk the lives of millions of people. 

A  spokesperson for the International Rescue Committee, Samira Sayed Rahman, said – “It is practically impossible to continue our work without female staff. This is a conservative society, and we need female workers to access women. This is a country where men and women do not interact in public spaces. We would be cut off from half of Afghanistan.“

The challenges are not just limited to assisting female patients. But it also causes financial loss to many female workers who have been the only breadwinner in the family.

There are many female workers who are acting as the main earners in their household and say, “If I cannot go to my job, who can support my family?” 

National and international NGOs have been informed with strict statements to stop allowing women workers to work on refugee operations. Furthermore, the government of the Taliban has threatened to cancel the organization’s license if any women workers are seen practicing in refugee operations. 

The Cruel Afghan Winter

With the winters ahead, temperatures across Afghanistan will plunge to as low as -17C and even lower in mountainous areas.

With no electricity, below average sanitation system, a ban on girls’ education, and the shutting down of higher secondary schools, the days are coming hard for Afghans, especially women. 

The Taliban government has already imposed dozens of bans on Afghan women that hinder human rights and make their lives more difficult. Being on the list of poorest countries in the world, Afghanistan’s economic condition will worsen more under such bans. 

UN’s Strict Actions Against the Ban by the Taliban

With immediate effect, the UN has temporarily suspended some of its “time-critical” programs in Afghanistan. Because the Taliban has banned women from working as aid workers, the UN has stopped providing essential services to the Afghan people, such as food, water, and medical care. 

Moreover, The United Nations has warned Afghanistan that many other programs may also need to be paused if the Taliban does not reverse its ban on women aid workers.

The organization says that the ban is “unacceptable” and that it “will have a devastating impact on the people of Afghanistan.” The United Nations is also warning that the ban could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

The Taliban has not yet responded to the United Nations’ call to reverse its ban. However, the United States assured that they would continue coordinating closely with their allies and partners, including the United Nations, to deliver aid to the people of Afghanistan.

Moreover, the United States also assured that they would take all necessary steps to prevent the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan from getting worse.

The Need for Serious Attention in Afghanistan

During the first press conference after seizing control over Afghanistan, the Taliban spokesperson assured the safety of women in the country.

The spokesperson established the impression of not imposing Sharia law on women in the country. However, These restrictions contradict the commitments made by the Taliban to the Afghan people as well as the expectations of the international community. 

The restrictions on getting an education, learning, going for jobs, or doing business by women deeply alarm the need for attention in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s restrictions on women are a serious setback for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. And it should be condemned by big heads like the USA, UK, and European countries with high priority. 

The international community must continue to pressure the Taliban to reverse its restrictions on women. The restrictions are a major obstacle to the development of Afghanistan, and they are having a devastating impact on the lives of millions of Afghan women and girls.