Afghanistan: three international NGOs suspend their work in the country
Afghan women wait to receive money at a distribution point organized by the World Food Program in Kabul on November 20, 2021. AP - Petros Giannakouris
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In Afghanistan, three international NGOs suspend their activities.
Save the Children, CARE and the Norwegian Refugee Council demand that men and women can carry out their assistance missions in the same way.
This Saturday, December 24, the Taliban banned associations and non-governmental, national and international organizations from employing women, on the grounds of non-compliance with the wearing of the Islamic hijab.
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This new decline in women's rights risks having dramatic consequences for the entire Afghan population, in particular on access to health care, education and food aid, notes the regional director of UNICEF.
►Also read: Afghanistan: the Taliban prohibit women from working for NGOs
According to the UN, more than half of the people of Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance during the winter.
NGOs provide vital support, not only through the aid they provide, but also through the number of jobs they create.
This Sunday, while three leading organizations, Save the Children, CARE and the Norwegian Refugee Council, stepped back, dozens of others were consulting to determine their response to the authorities' decision.
"
It's not a decision we took lightly, but it's a red line for us.
To work, we need free access for both men and women.
It's non-negotiable.
We cannot operate in a system that discriminates against half the population.
We cannot find a compromise on this
,” comments Becky Roby, director of representation at the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Call for Collective NGO Action
The Norwegian Refugee Council calls on other NGOs to also suspend work to establish a favorable balance of power against the Taliban.
In the letter they sent to NGOs yesterday, they reported complaints about employees who do not respect Islamic dress rules. “
We really hope for collective action in the face of this decision.
It's the only way to find a positive outcome
,” continues Becky Roby.
The text does not specify whether the decision to prohibit the employment of female personnel concerns foreign and Afghan women.
The latter are numerous, in particular within the NGOs which operate in remote regions of the country.
“
There are ongoing negotiations, we hope the result will be positive.
Not just for us and our operations, but for Afghans.
If the door to humanitarian aid closes in Afghanistan, what will happen to the population is unimaginable
,” said Becky Roby of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
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Afghanistan
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