Afghanistan’s Taliban government has announced it will shut down all national and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) employing women, following a previous directive issued two years ago to halt the employment of Afghan women in NGOs.
The latest order was made public through a letter posted on X on Sunday evening by the Ministry of Economy, which warned that failure to comply would result in NGOs losing their operating licenses in Afghanistan. The ministry oversees the registration, coordination, leadership, and supervision of all national and foreign organizations operating in the country.
The letter reaffirmed that the Taliban government is enforcing a halt to female employment in institutions not under Taliban control. “In case of lack of cooperation, all activities of that institution will be cancelled and the activity license of that institution, granted by the ministry, will also be cancelled,” the letter stated.
This move is part of the Taliban’s broader efforts to exert control over NGO operations. Earlier this month, the United Nations Security Council reported that an increasing number of Afghan humanitarian workers, particularly women, were being obstructed by the Taliban’s morality police, despite the critical need for aid in the country.
The Taliban denies interfering with the work of humanitarian organizations, claiming they are not obstructing aid efforts. However, the group has previously barred women from many jobs, restricted access to public spaces, and prohibited education beyond sixth grade for girls.
In a separate development, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree requiring buildings to be designed without windows overlooking areas where women may sit or stand. The decree, posted on X late Saturday, applies to both new constructions and existing buildings.
According to the decree, windows should not overlook areas such as yards or kitchens. If a window does have a view into such spaces, property owners are required to obscure the view by installing a wall, fence, or screen to “remove harm.” Municipalities and authorities are tasked with supervising the construction of new buildings to ensure compliance.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing was unavailable for comment on the decree.
