The Security Council vote comes a few days before an international meeting in Doha, Qatar. There, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants to consult with delegations from various countries in order to arrive at a joint approach in dealing with the Taliban.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Under the rule of the extremists, girls and women lose more and more rights and freedoms. For example, they now have very limited access to education and jobs for women are disappearing. In December, a ban on female staff at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was introduced, which drew international criticism.
Women’s work at the UN continued after the ban was introduced. According to the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the extension of the ban is not only a question of deliberate discrimination. The measure “challenges the population’s ability to maintain access to life-saving aid and services” and therefore violates human rights, UNAMA said earlier this month.