Restricting women from work in Afghanistan unlawful, against UN charter, says UN

New Delhi: As the impasse on the ban on women working in Afghanistan continues between the UN and the ruling Taliban regime, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in a statement issued yesterday, said that the ban on its female Afghan staff working is "unlawful under international law, including the UN Charter, and for that reason, the United Nations cannot comply."

The UN again strongly condemned the edict issued by the ruling Taliban to ban Afghan women from working for the UN in Afghanistan. UN national personnel — women and men — have been instructed not to report to UN offices, with limited and calibrated exceptions made for critical tasks. Still, they will be working from home.

The Mission said any adverse consequences of this crisis for the Afghan people will be the responsibility of the de facto authorities. “Just to confirm that we will maintain principled and constructive engagement with all possible levels of the Taliban de facto authorities, as mandated by the Security Council.”

"Through this ban, the Taliban de facto authorities seek to force the United Nations into having to make an appalling choice between staying and delivering in support of the Afghan people and standing by the norms and principles we are duty-bound to uphold," UNAMA said.

According to the statement, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has initiated an operational review period up to May 5 2023.

"During this period, the UN in Afghanistan will conduct the necessary consultations, make required operational adjustments, and accelerate contingency planning for all possible outcomes," the statement said.

Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, who is visiting Afghanistan and met some of the Taliban leaders drawing attention to the plight of Afghan women and girls, called on the "de facto authorities" in Afghanistan to reverse the bans on education and employment of the Afghan girls.

The Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, in reaction to Mohammed's remarks, said there should be no interference with Afghanistan's internal affairs.

"Any decision that has been made; it has been made based on the law. And it is based on the wishes of the people of Afghanistan and the situation. The UN should not limit its activities because of individuals and should continue its help to the people of Afghanistan and not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs," he said.

The UN said that the United Nations would maintain principled and constructive engagement with all possible levels of the "Taliban de facto authorities," as mandated by the UNSC.

"UN national personnel – women and men – have been instructed not to report to UN offices, with limited and calibrated exceptions made for critical tasks," UNAMA said.

The suspension of work of the UN Afghan national staff in Afghanistan had been extended for another 26 days as talks between the UN officials and the ruling Taliban could not produce any results.

Around 4,000 local staff of UN missions in Afghanistan, including women, will continue their work from home. Last week UN officials suspended work for 48 hours in solidarity with the female Afghan UN staff, which is now extended until May 5 of this year.

Women and girls have also been banned from working for NGOs, except for a few health institutions. Females have been barred from visiting amusement parks, sports clubs and baths.

Around 28 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian aid, of which 23% are women, 54% are children, and 8.3% have severe disabilities.

David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), said in an interview that six million people in Afghanistan are on the brink of famine due to the lack of money.

No country has recognized the ruling Taliban government even though around fourteen countries' embassies are functioning in Kabul.