Kathmandu, December 26. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday stated that he was  “deeply disturbed” by the Taliban’s government decision to ban women from working in non-governmental social organizations. 

Guterres’ official spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the secretary-general affirms that all women have the right to work and thereby have a positive impact on society.

“The United Nations and its partners, including national and international non-governmental organizations, are helping more than 28 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid to survive… This decision will undermine the work of numerous organizations working across the country helping those most vulnerable,” the statement reads.

Acts of the Taliban in marginalizing women in Islamic society

This is not the first time the Taliban has limited women’s freedom. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August last year, they imposed multiple restrictions on women.

Last year in December, the administration of Kabul announced a ban on the use of images of women on commercial and fashion hoarding boards in the city. The administrators stated that depicting women in public promotional materials is prohibited by Islamic law.

Earlier in May, the Taliban announced the most severe restrictions, ordering all women in the country to entirely cover their bodies with traditional burkhas whenever they come out in public.

The government also forbids women from pursuing secondary school, applying for government positions, or traveling outside of their cities. In the capital city of Kabul, women are not allowed to open beauty salons.

International organizations has defined these acts of the Taliban as “a step toward the marginalization of women in Islamic society.”