Taliban examining imminent threats of violence towards female UN employees in Afghanistan, according to a news piece
In a troubling development for the humanitarian sector in Afghanistan, a United Nations (UN) report has confirmed that dozens of Afghan women working for the organisation have received explicit death threats[1][2][3][5]. The threats, which emerged in May 2023, have led the UN to implement interim security measures to protect female national staff in Afghanistan.
The Taliban, who have been in control of Afghanistan since 2021, have publicly denied responsibility for these threats. Taliban officials, including the Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani, stated that no threat exists to these women and that a dedicated department and strategic protection plan are in place. The Taliban say they are investigating the matter through the Interior Ministry, though Afghan authorities have not fully confirmed details or publicly accepted the scope of the threats[1][2][3][5].
Since the Taliban regained control, restrictions on Afghan women’s rights and employment have dramatically increased. The Taliban banned Afghan women from working for domestic and foreign Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in December 2022 and extended this ban to UN agencies by mid-2023, threatening to close organisations that continue employing women. These restrictions have severely curtailed women’s public presence and mobility, including dress code enforcement like requiring the chador and detaining women for non-compliance, affecting personal freedoms widely[1][2][3].
In Ghor province, police forced several families to leave a recreational area and warned against visiting outdoor picnic sites with women. In Herat, Vice and Virtue inspectors stopped family groups with women and girls from accessing an open recreational area, allowing only all-male groups. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab instead of a burqa covering the entire body and face. In Kandahar, the Public Health Department instructed female health care workers to be accompanied to work by male guardians with an identification card[1][2][3].
Some women have stayed on in key sectors such as health care and urgent humanitarian assistance despite the ban. However, the threats and bans represent a new, serious challenge for the UN and Afghan women in the humanitarian sector amid deteriorating human rights conditions[1][2][3][5].
References: [1] Al Jazeera. (2023, August). UN report confirms death threats against Afghan women workers. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/1/un-report-confirms-death-threats-against-afghan-women-workers
[2] BBC News. (2023, August). UN staff in Afghanistan face death threats, report reveals. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65267355
[3] Human Rights Watch. (2023, August). UN Staff in Afghanistan Face Death Threats. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/08/01/un-staff-afghanistan-face-death-threats
[4] The New York Times. (2023, August). Taliban Investigate Explicit Death Threats Against Afghan Women Working for United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-un-death-threats.html
[5] The Guardian. (2023, August). Explicit death threats against Afghan women working for the United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/01/un-staff-in-afghanistan-face-death-threats-linked-to-their-work-for-the-organisation-report-says
- The government'sintervention in the form of security measures is crucial to safeguard the health and well-being of Afghan women working for the UN due to threats in the war-torn region.
- The political climate in Afghanistan, particularly in relation to transportation, has seen restrictions on women's mobility, making it difficult for them to access the health-and-wellness sector.
- In the general news, the emergence of death threats against Afghan women working for the UN has stirred concern internationally, underscoring the importance of women's health and the role of the United Nations in science and humanitarian efforts.
- The growing restriction on women's rights in Afghanistan, such as employment and dress codes, has been a major point of contention in global politics, with many nations voicing their concern over these issues.
- The ongoing crime and justice issue in Afghanistan, represented by the explicit death threats against UN staff, reflects the broader human rights concerns in the field of science, health care, and women's health, necessitating international attention and action.
