The Taliban has issued an order to close all national and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Afghanistan that employ women. In a letter shared on X, the Taliban-led Ministry of Economy warned that any NGO failing to comply with this order would lose its licence to function in the country.
This latest move comes two years after the Taliban had initially directed NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women, citing non-compliance with the group’s strict interpretation of the Islamic dress code for women.
According to the Ministry of Economy, it is responsible for the registration, coordination, leadership, and supervision of all activities carried out by both national and foreign organisations in Afghanistan.
The new directive demands that women cease working in institutions not controlled by the Taliban, with the Ministry stressing that any institution found in violation would have its licence revoked, effectively halting its operations.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, there have been increasing restrictions on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women.
These measures have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, with the United Nations labelling the situation as “gender apartheid.” The restrictions have impacted nearly every aspect of women’s lives, including their education, employment, and access to public spaces.
The Taliban has imposed a ban on girls attending school beyond the sixth grade, severely limiting educational opportunities for young Afghan girls.
Furthermore, women’s employment has been restricted, with many women unable to work in various sectors, particularly those involving foreign organisations or institutions not governed by the Taliban. In addition, women’s access to parks and other public spaces has been blocked, further eroding their ability to participate in public life.
When the Taliban first introduced the ban on girls’ education and women’s employment, they described it as a “temporary suspension” that would be lifted once a safe environment for girls to attend school could be established.
However, nearly three years later, no significant change has been made to this policy, with the restrictions remaining firmly in place.
The situation has worsened for female humanitarian workers as well. Earlier this month, the United Nations Security Council was informed that more and more female Afghan humanitarian workers were being prevented from carrying out their duties, despite the critical need for relief in the country.
According to senior UN official Tom Fletcher, there has been an increase in the number of humanitarian organisations—both male and female staff—being blocked from performing their work.
Despite this, the Taliban has denied hindering the operations of aid agencies, insisting that the restrictions are necessary to uphold Afghanistan’s laws, social norms, and public safety.
The Taliban’s stance on women’s rights has drawn global scrutiny, with many organisations calling for stronger action to ensure the protection of women’s freedoms.
However, the Taliban continues to defend its policies, arguing that nearly 9,000 work permits have been issued to women since the group’s return to power, and that many women remain part of the Afghan workforce.
Yet, critics argue that these claims do not reflect the reality on the ground, where women’s opportunities for meaningful employment and education remain severely limited.
