Afghanistan requires the participation of both women and men to effectively respond to its major challenges as millions return to the country amid a severe humanitarian crisis, according to two UN officials. Women have been largely excluded from public life since the Taliban regained power in 2021, facing restrictions on employment, education, and leisure activities.
Call for Inclusive Talent Utilization
"You need all hands on deck, you need all the talents that are available, and that is male talent but also female talent," said Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme. De Croo made these remarks during a visit to a carpet weaving center in Nahr-e-shahi, northern Afghanistan, which employs women who have recently returned to the country.
Mass Returns and Humanitarian Challenges
More than six million Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, following tightened migration policies in those countries. These returns have exacerbated existing challenges in housing, employment, and access to healthcare in a nation already scarred by decades of war.
Urgent Need for Women's Inclusion
De Croo called on the Afghan authorities to ensure "sufficient access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship for girls and women." The Taliban has imposed multiple restrictions on women, including barring them from studying beyond primary school, working in certain professions, and visiting parks.
UN's Call for Cooperation
Barham Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted the limitations imposed by the ban on women working in UN offices, a measure repeatedly condemned by the world body. Salih is set to meet with Taliban officials in Kabul to urge them to lift this ban. "Afghanistan deserves support, but for us to be able to do so, there needs to be collaboration and cooperation," he said.
Economic Impact of Restrictions
According to a UNICEF report issued in April, restrictions on women's education and employment cost Afghanistan at least $84 million every year. The report underscores the economic and social imperative of including women in the country's development efforts.
