Afghan women face further harm if donor funding is withdrawn – report

Afghan women and children in Kabul in January. Donors are withdrawing from Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s harsh treatment of women. Photograph: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

Western countries have risked causing further harm to Afghan women by withdrawing funding and suspending operations in protest against Taliban policies that adversely affect women, the International Crisis Group said in a report today.

The Brussels-based thinktank said outside powers should hold the Taliban to account for its bans on secondary and university education for girls and women as well as on those working for non-governmental organisations, but they should avoid “self-defeating” policies that left women without services.