UN Chief Appeals for Afghan Women’s Rights Amid Ongoing Restrictions

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on Afghan women, describing these measures as violations of fundamental rights.

Guterres Urges Taliban to Lift Restrictions on Afghan Women and Girls

On the anniversary of the ban on Afghan women working in UN offices in Afghanistan, António Guterres has expressed his concerns regarding the discriminatory practices of the Taliban against women and girls. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, he emphasized that the restrictions on women’s participation in public life and education represent a serious violation of their basic rights.

Guterres also warned that these limitations are major obstacles to Afghanistan’s economic development and integration into the global community. He called on the Afghan authorities to immediately revoke all restrictions against women and girls and to ensure their rights are fully and equitably protected.

Afghan Women Employees Banned from Working at the UN

The Taliban government officially prohibited Afghan women from working in UN offices on September 7, 2025. Before these restrictions were implemented, statistics indicated that over 3,300 Afghans, including nearly 400 women, were employed within the UN framework.

This ban has severely restricted Afghan women’s access to their workplaces, negatively impacting the UN’s humanitarian efforts in the country. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has also supported Guterres’ call, reiterating the importance of upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls.

Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan Under Review

During its sixty-third session on Monday, September 7, the UN Human Rights Council will examine the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, is set to present a report on the current human rights landscape.

This comes as the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies have repeatedly raised concerns about the human rights situation over the more than five years of Taliban rule, particularly regarding the rights of women and girls.