Afghanistan: work stoppage after ban on employing women, a difficult decision for NGOs
In Afghanistan, at least a dozen international NGOs have decided to suspend their activities after the Taliban banned associations and NGOs from employing women, on the grounds of non-compliance with the wearing of the Islamic hijab.
REUTERS - STRINGER
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2 mins
In Afghanistan, at least a dozen international NGOs decided to suspend their activities after the Taliban prohibited national and international associations and non-governmental organizations from employing women, on the grounds of failure to respect the wearing of islamic hijab.
Publicity
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With our regional correspondent
,
Sonia Ghezali
More NGOs are suspending their work after the ban on employing women.
The number of Afghan NGOs, especially those
run by women
, that have had to close down is unknown.
UN agencies, which are currently not affected by this ban, are in discussions, like several international organizations, as well as donors, to decide whether or not to suspend their activities in Afghanistan.
A difficult decision in the Afghan context.
More than half of the population needs humanitarian assistance.
But a red line has been crossed for many international NGOs.
Dilemma
Action against Hunger (ACF), present in Afghanistan since 1995, is one of the international non-governmental organizations which has suspended its non-vital activities since Sunday.
► To read also: In Afghanistan, universities are now prohibited for women
“
It's never an easy decision to make because on the one hand, we have the lives of children under the age of five in our hands, and we have the responsibility to continue our vital care.
And on the other side, we have this surprising, unexpected decision to prohibit women from working in humanitarian organizations and for us this is something non-negotiable
", explains Samy Guessabi, the director of the French NGO in Afghanistan.
If ACF believes that dialogue is still possible with the Taliban regime, the NGO wants to express its position on the decision of the Islamic Emirate.
“
It is important for ACF to remember that 40% of our colleagues are women.
That without these women who work with us, it is impossible to serve and help more than half of the population in need
”, continues Samy Guessabi.
All Afghan women-led NGOs closed their doors on Sunday.
They have no choice.
"
I still can't believe I told the girls they shouldn't come to work anymore
," cries Arezo Hussein, head of an NGO in Kabul that raises awareness on the phone. female intimate hygiene.
► To read also:
Afghanistan: three international NGOs suspend their work in the country
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Afghanistan
Womens rights
Taliban
NGO