EU condemns Taliban decision to ban women from working in NGOs

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrelldenounced this Sunday a decree recently issued by the Taliban-created authorities in Afghanistan that bans women from working for NGOs.

“The EU is shocked by these decisions, which add to the restrictions previously imposed by the Taliban on women’s ability and right to work, receive education and, as the entire international community has repeatedly stressed, constitute a clear violation of its human rights,” he said. said.

Borrell stated that this decision involves the “eradication of women” in society Afghanistan. He also recalled that about 30 million people “depend on humanitarian aid, including food and medical care, to survive.”

“Women play a particularly important role in helping other women. Restricting their participation in this critical work will prevent such assistance from being provided to a significant portion of the population, including widows, female-headed households, and children.” .

Finally, the High Representative asked the “de facto” authorities to reverse their decision “immediately” and warned that the EU would “assess the impact” and “consequences” of the recent actions taken by the Taliban.

On Saturday, the Taliban-run Afghan Ministry of Economy issued a decree ordering all non-governmental organizations, both national and international, to suspend employment contracts with women until further notice.

The reason cited by the Taliban authorities was the failure of employees to comply with a government order regarding the wearing of the hijab, a veil that women must wear in public places, DPA reported.

The measure comes the same week that the Ministry of Education banned women from university education, also alleging non-compliance with the dress code among other alleged violations of the law.

This decision was criticized by the international community, including much of the Islamic world. The Taliban announced on Friday the opening of an internal debate to discuss the criticisms received.

Taliban suppress women’s protest

The Taliban forcefully dispersed a demonstration of dozens of women, mostly students and social activists, in Kabul and arrested several of them protesting the fundamentalists’ decision to ban women’s education in universities.

Shouting “all or nothing” and “we want equal educational opportunities,” a group of dozens of “community activists, girls and students” gathered today in the Debori metropolitan area to protest “the brutal decision of the Taliban government,” EFE said. organizer of the march, Basira Hussaini.

(According to Europa Press and EFE)