The Kabul Tribune (KT) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned restrictions imposed by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on women and girls, saying the policies are undermining the country’s ability to move forward and limiting humanitarian and development efforts.
“It is absolutely intolerable that women, first of all, are
not allowed even to work in our premises,” Guterres told a news conference.
He also criticized restrictions on girls’ access to
education and the limits placed on women’s ability to work.
“It is absolutely intolerable that the access of girls to
education is limited, and it is absolutely intolerable that women are not
allowed to work except in very specific circumstances,” he said.
Guterres described the restrictions as one of the United
Nations’ “biggest concerns” and said the U.N. has been working to mobilize the
international community and pressure the Taliban to reverse the policies.
He said the restrictions were harming Afghanistan’s
prospects for progress, undermining the delivery of humanitarian assistance and
placing severe limitations on the country’s development.
“So that is for us a fundamental concern,” Guterres said.
The Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and
girls since returning to power in 2021, including barring girls from secondary
schools and women from universities. Women have also faced restrictions on
employment and access to various public spaces and services.
