UN Security Council urges Taliban to reverse restrictions on women

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations Security Council said it was “deeply alarmed” by Taliban’s ban on women attending university or working for aid groups inAfghanistan.

The Taliban last week ordered all local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tostop their female employees from coming to workandsuspended university educationfor all female students in the country.

In its statement Tuesday, the UNSC expressed its “deep concern” and called for “the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan.”

It also urged the Taliban to reverse its policies, “which represents an increasing erosion for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

At least half a dozen major foreign aid groups have said they aretemporarily suspending their operationsin Afghanistan following the ban on female NGO employees, CNN reports.

The NGO ban would impact humanitarian operations in the country, including those of the UN, the UNSC statement said.

“These restrictions contradict the commitments made by the Taliban to the Afghan people as well as the expectations of the international community,” the UNSC added.

Writing on Twitter Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the restrictions were “unjustifiable human rights violations and must be revoked.”

“Actions to exclude and silence women and girls continue to cause immense suffering and major setbacks to the potential of the Afghan people,” he said.