The Taliban have announced their intention to shut down all national and foreign nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan that employ women, marking a further crackdown on women's rights since they seized power in August 2021. This move comes after a previous directive two years ago that required NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women due to alleged violations of Islamic dress codes.
The Economy Ministry issued a warning that failure to comply with the latest order would result in NGOs losing their operating licenses in Afghanistan. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the shrinking space for women's rights in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to reverse these restrictions to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
