Main international help teams droop work in Afghanistan after Taliban bars feminine staff

Estimated read time 5 min read



CNN

At the least six main international help teams mentioned they have been briefly suspending their operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned feminine staff of non-governmental organizations from working.

Support teams Save the Youngsters, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE Worldwide mentioned in a joint assertion on Sunday, “With out feminine workers, it might be not possible to successfully attain out to the youngsters, men and women in determined want in Afghanistan. you possibly can’t.

“Whereas clarifying about this announcement, we’re requesting that this system be paused to permit women and men to proceed their life-saving help in Afghanistan equally,” mentioned the three NGOs. An announcement signed by the individual answerable for mentioned:

One other help group, the Worldwide Rescue Fee, mentioned greater than 3,000 of the greater than 8,000 individuals employed in Afghanistan are ladies. “If we’re not allowed to make use of ladies, we will be unable to achieve individuals in want,” it mentioned in an announcement on Sunday, asserting that it was suspending operations within the nation.

Afghanistan additionally mentioned it had halted its operations in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s transfer, and that Islamic Aid had been pressured to “briefly droop any non-lifesaving actions in Afghanistan.”

The Taliban regime on Saturday ordered all native and worldwide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ban feminine staff from coming to work, in accordance with a letter despatched by the economic system ministry to all licensed NGOs. Violations will consequence within the revocation of the NGO’s license, the ministry mentioned.

David Wright, chief working officer of Save the Youngsters Worldwide, advised CNN on Monday that the ban “permits the group to achieve out to tens of hundreds of susceptible moms and youngsters throughout the nation.” I did not,’ he mentioned.

“We can not go to work as a result of we want feminine colleagues to have alternatives to work together with ladies and youngsters. No, as a result of it isn’t acceptable in Afghanistan for all-male workers to take care of younger ladies and youngsters,” he mentioned.

In a letter, the ministry cited non-compliance with Islamic costume codes and different legal guidelines and laws as the explanation for the choice.

“We have now lately acquired severe complaints relating to the Muslim hijab and different non-compliance with Islamic Emirate legal guidelines and laws,” the letter mentioned, leading to “a Steering has been given to droop work for all feminine staff of ”

The brand new restrictions mark one other step within the Taliban’s brutal crackdown on ladies’s freedom in Afghanistan after hardline Islamist teams took over Afghanistan in August 2021.

The Taliban have repeatedly claimed to guard the rights of women and girls, however in observe they’ve performed the alternative, stripping ladies of the hard-won freedoms they’ve fought so vigorously over the previous twenty years. .

Afghan human rights activist Pashtana Durrani advised CNN on Sunday, “The supreme chief is doing all the pieces he can … even when there are separate factions to make ladies as powerless as potential. ‘ mentioned.

“The Taliban do not care. They need ladies, particularly the supreme chief, to be restricted as a lot as potential,” she added.

Earlier this week, the Taliban authorities suspended school training for all feminine Afghan college students.

At a televised press convention on Thursday, the Taliban increased training minister cites feminine college students touring with out male guardians, accusing them of failing to stick to Islamic costume codes and different “Islamic values”. He mentioned ladies have been barred from school. The transfer sparked outrage amongst Afghan ladies.

On Saturday, a gaggle of ladies took to the streets within the metropolis of Herat to protest the college ban. Video footage circulating on social media reveals Taliban officers utilizing water cannons to disperse feminine protesters. Women have been seen escaping from water cannons and chanting “cowards” to officers.

A few of the Taliban’s most notable restrictions concern training, with women banned from returning to secondary faculty in March. The transfer devastated many college students and their households, who advised CNN of their shattered desires of turning into medical doctors, academics or engineers.

The UN on Saturday condemned the Taliban NGO’s announcement and mentioned it might attempt to meet with the Taliban management to hunt clarification.

“Ladies have to be enabled to play a significant position in all facets of life, together with within the humanitarian response. It will not solely accomplish that, however could be a transparent violation of humanitarian rules,” the UN assertion learn. “This newest choice will solely harm essentially the most susceptible individuals, particularly ladies and women, much more.”

UNICEF mentioned the order “is a gross setback in women’ and ladies’s rights and may have a serious impression on the supply of well being, vitamin and training providers to youngsters”.

Amnesty Worldwide known as on the ban to be “instantly withdrawn” and the Taliban to “cease abusing their energy”.

The Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross (ICRC) mentioned on Sunday it was significantly involved about the way forward for Afghanistan’s well being system and its feminine sufferers.

The ICRC mentioned it helps 45 medical establishments in Afghanistan, together with hospitals and medical faculties. Notably, it pays the salaries of 10,483 well being staff, 33% of whom are ladies.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken additionally condemned Saturday’s transfer. “I’m deeply involved that the Taliban’s ban on ladies offering humanitarian help in Afghanistan will forestall important help that can save the lives of hundreds of thousands,” he wrote on Twitter. “Ladies are on the middle of humanitarian efforts around the globe. This choice could possibly be devastating for the individuals of Afghanistan.”

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned US officers “mustn’t intrude within the inner affairs” of Afghanistan.

“These organizations working in Afghanistan are obligated to adjust to our nation’s legal guidelines and laws,” he tweeted on Sunday, including that he “makes irresponsible statements or threats concerning the selections or officers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” Nobody is allowed to do something like that,” he added. Within the identify of humanitarian help. ”

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