After the ban on working for NGOs, distraught Afghan women
Afghan women working for Médecins Sans Frontières help a young man at Kunduz hospital, north of Kabul, May 20, 2015. © Rahmat Gul / AP
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2 mins
On Wednesday 28 December, foreign ministers from twelve countries and the European Union, including the United States and the United Kingdom, called on the Taliban government to reverse its decision to ban women from working in local and foreign NGOs.
Since Saturday December 24, at least a dozen international NGOs have decided to suspend their activity partially or totally.
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Since the announcement on December 24 of
the ban on Afghan
women working for NGOs, all local
non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) run by women have had to close, and those that employ women can no longer use their services. .
Maryam, whose name has been changed for security reasons, is the director of an NGO that makes orthopedic prostheses.
Since Sunday, December 25, her female employees as well as herself must stay at home.
“
If we don't have women in orthopedics, women patients cannot be treated, because they cannot be treated by men
,” she laments.
I am disabled.
I lost both my legs in an explosion.
Despite everything, I have not been limited in my life.
I studied up to my master's degree and became a person who helps other women like me.
»
Psychological distress
Somaya is a psychologist.
Since women have been banned from professional life, from the public sphere and since they no longer have access to education, they have struggled to support their patients.
“
Many girls who can no longer work and go to university try to commit suicide.
Some of my patients took rat poison, they tried to end their lives to escape this progressive death that we are suffering
, ”laments the Afghan.
“
This situation is very difficult for me, even though I am a psychologist.
But I do my best to motivate other women who visit me.
I tell them that this situation will not last forever
, ”she continues.
For now, Somaya can continue to work, because the NGO that employs him depends on the Ministry of Health.
However, she does not know for how long she will escape the vice that is tightening a little more every day on women in Afghanistan.
► To read also: In Afghanistan, the work stoppage after the ban on employing women, a difficult decision for NGOs
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Afghanistan
Womens rights
Taliban
NGO