The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported last week that its female staff in the Eastern Province of Nangarhar has been banned from their jobs, the issue triggered strong international reactions and many countries, organizations and institutions requested to withdraw the decision.
The European Union also called the decision an act of discrimination and a violation of international law and principles, and warned that it will deteriorate the situation of Afghan women and girls.
“The new discriminatory decision of the Taliban aggravates the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and breaches the international human rights law, including the treaties to which Afghanistan is a party. It is a clear violation of humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. The decision puts women in an increasingly vulnerable position and will have direct life-threatening consequences.” Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said
Meanwhile, Borrell renewed the commitment of the European Union to Afghanistan, but asked the IE to remove the bans imposed on Afghan women and girls.
Borrell said, according to the previous meetings and decisions of the European Union, if EU’s aid is not distributed according to the principles of the Union and without any discrimination or gender differences, then they will reconsider their support.
He added: “The European Union, according to a policy, reaffirms its commitment to continue its involvement and assistance for the benefit of Afghans. We ask the Taliban to allow Afghan women to participate equally and meaningfully in the provision of aid and services, so that they can benefit from aid. As stated before, if the aid is not continued in line with the principles of European Union and is not without consideration of discrimination and gender, then the continuation and support of these activities will be reconsidered.”
Now there are concerns that the international community will lessen or completely stop its aid in response to these decisions, but the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, called on the world not to leave Afghans alone at this critical time.
Alakbarov said that Afghans have already suffered a lot, so now the international community should not further hurt them by stopping their financial aid.
Alakbarov added: “The world cannot leave Afghans alone at this critical and sensitive time. While we are discussing the decrees with the Taliban authorities, we also ask the international community not to harass the Afghan people by stopping their essential and vital financial assistance. The people of Afghanistan have already suffered, so it would not be wise to further oppress them by cutting off humanitarian aid.”
The international community has reiterated that women employees are the backbone of their aid delivery and if the bans imposed on them are not withdrawn, their activities will be reduced and millions of Afghans will be deprived of aid.
Although, many Afghans are surviving with foreign aid, the IE has not yet reacted to these international concerns and threats.
