Taliban ban on women working in NGOs: Minutes show exceptions Cold snap hits US over Christmas weekend

According to the minutes of a meeting between UN representatives and Islamist leaders in Afghanistan, a Taliban ban on women working in non-governmental organizations provides for several exceptions.

Women employees of the United Nations and foreign NGO workers are exempt, as are all women working in the health sector, according to minutes of a meeting between Taliban economy minister Din Mohammed Hanif and the UN’s executive chief. mission in Afghanistan (Unama), Ramiz Alakbarov.

The meeting took place on Monday, the minutes are available from the German press agency. First the ARD had reported on it. The Taliban initially did not respond to a request for Tuesday’s meeting.

The work ban is provoking strong reactions at home and abroad. Several important aid organizations for the country, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Norwegian Refugee Agency (NRC) and Welthungerhilfe, have already suspended their activities. The German Minister of Development Cooperation Svenja Schulze on Monday questioned the aid to the country.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Kabul justified its demand for the suspension of the workers, which it published on Saturday, on the grounds that the women had not veiled themselves properly and thus violated the rules in the Islamic country. According to the minutes, Minister Hanif also confirmed this to Alakbarov.

The Taliban minister said he had observed instances of disregard for the veil regulations for women throughout the year. He tried to solve the problem through dialogue with the NGOs until the senior Taliban leadership found out. His ministry was asked by top management to send the letter to the NGOs. NGO circles said such allegations were unfounded.

The Taliban minister is also quoted in the minutes as saying that he will support the search for a solution to the issue and that it will take him a few days to approach Unama with a proposal for a solution.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is considered precarious. The economy has collapsed since international troops withdrew. According to the United Nations, the UN and its partners, including national and international NGOs, are currently helping more than 28 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid for their survival. An estimated 37 million people live in the country. (sda/dpa)