Taliban Reiterates Ban on Women in NGOs in Afghanistan, Threatens Closure on December 27, 2024

Dec 30, 2024, 08:14 AM

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has reiterated its ban on women working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), threatening to close all national and foreign NGOs that continue to employ women. This directive, enforced by the Taliban's Ministry of Economy in a letter dated December 27, 2024, follows a December 2022 order. The ministry has warned that non-compliance will result in the suspension of operations and revocation of licenses for the offending NGOs. This move is part of a broader set of restrictions imposed by the Taliban, which also include barring women from many jobs, most public spaces, and education beyond the sixth grade. The Taliban's actions have drawn international condemnation and have exacerbated Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, where female workers are crucial for delivering aid in a patriarchal society.