UN Chief Antonio Guterres Calls for Immediate Action to Lift Restrictions on Afghan Women

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

Guterres Urges Taliban to Revoke Restrictions on Afghan Women and Girls

On the one-year anniversary of the ban on Afghan women working in UN offices in Afghanistan, Antonio Guterres expressed his concerns regarding the discriminatory practices of the Taliban against women and girls. In a statement issued 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 fundamental rights.

Guterres also warned that these restrictions are a major barrier to economic development and the integration of Afghanistan into the global community. He urged the Afghan authorities to immediately lift all restrictions against women and girls and to ensure their rights are fully and equally protected.

Afghan Women Employees Barred from Working at the UN

On September 7, 2025, the Taliban government prohibited Afghan women from working in UN offices. According to UN statistics, prior to these bans, over 3,300 Afghans, including nearly 400 women, were employed at the organization.

This ban severely restricted Afghan women’s ability to attend their workplaces, having a negative impact on the UN’s humanitarian efforts. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, also supported Guterres’s call and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of Afghan women and girls.

Examination of Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to address the human rights situation in Afghanistan during its sixty-third session on Monday, September 7. Richard Bennett, the UN’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, is expected to present a report on the current human rights conditions at this meeting.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies have continuously expressed their concerns regarding the human rights situation, particularly concerning women and girls, throughout the five years of Taliban rule.