The Complex Reality Of Women's Employment In Afghanistan

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, women's rights have changed drastically. Women have been banned from working for domestic and foreign NGOs, and female employment levels have dropped by 25% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021. The Taliban have also banned girls from attending secondary school and banned women from attending universities. Women have been ordered to wear head-to-toe clothing in public and have been barred from parks and gyms. They are also not allowed to travel more than 75km without a male guardian relative and are compelled to stay at home. These restrictions have made it difficult for women to work, and many are now afraid for their future and the future of their children.

Women banned from working in NGOs

On 24 December 2022, the Taliban issued a letter banning women from working in international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This was the latest in a series of restrictions on women's rights and freedoms in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in August 2021.

The ban was ordered by the Economy Minister, Qari Din Mohammed Hanif, who said that any NGO found not complying with the order would have their operating license revoked. A spokesman for the ministry claimed that the ban was due to female staff not wearing the "correct" headscarf, or hijab, and confirmed that it applied to both Afghan women and foreign women working in the country.

The ban has had a significant impact on the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, as women are often needed to serve other women, especially in the health sector. It has also dealt a further blow to the Afghan economy, which was already in crisis, and accelerated the removal of women and girls from public life.

The United Nations has condemned the ban, stating that it violates women's fundamental rights and is a clear breach of humanitarian principles. The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said that " [p]reventing women from humanitarian work is a grave denial of their humanity. It will only result in further suffering and hardship for all Afghans, especially women and children."

Despite the widespread criticism, the ban remains in place, and projects that involve female NGO staff training other women have been unable to continue. The future of many similar initiatives now hangs in the balance.

Women barred from government jobs

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women have faced increasing restrictions on their rights, including their right to work.

The Impact of the Taliban Takeover

One of the most significant changes has been the effective ban on women working in government jobs. This has left hundreds of women without work and excluded them from the country's hardline new government.

The Situation for Women in Afghanistan

Under the Taliban's rule, women are now prohibited from sharing offices with men and are barred from most fields of employment. They have also been ordered to wear head-to-toe clothing in public and have been banned from parks and gyms.

The Reasoning Behind the Restrictions

The Taliban has justified these restrictions by claiming that they are necessary to protect women's honour and ensure they adhere to the group's interpretation of Islamic law or Sharia. They have also cited complaints about female employees not wearing the "correct" Islamic headscarf or hijab.

The Impact on Women and Society

The restrictions on women's employment have had a devastating impact, with many women now unable to support their families or meet their basic needs. It has also led to a sense of isolation and suffocation among women, who feel their freedoms and rights are being eroded.

International Reactions and Responses

The international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, has widely condemned the Taliban's actions as a violation of women's rights. There have been calls for the Taliban to respect and uphold women's rights to education and employment, with warnings that the restrictions will have severe economic and social consequences for Afghanistan.

Women's education banned

Background

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the group has sought to marginalize women and girls and erase them from public life. In September 2021, the Taliban banned girls from receiving a secondary education and barred women from attending university. The Taliban has implemented over 20 written and verbal decrees on girls' education, with each edict adding more restrictions. These decrees include banning co-education, certain university majors for female students, and annual university entrance exams for females.

Impact

The education ban has had a devastating impact on the mental health of Afghan women and girls, with reports of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It has also disrupted the country's social and economic fabric, with half of the population unable to contribute to Afghanistan's future.

International Reaction

The education ban has sparked fierce international uproar and widespread condemnation, with the United Nations (UN) criticizing the Taliban for increasing restrictions on women and girls. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Muslim-majority countries have also called on the Taliban to rescind their bans, but to no avail.

Taliban Response

The Taliban has defended its policies, insisting that the women's education ban is not permanent. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that girls are allowed to attend school up to grade six, and thousands of female doctors and nurses are working in the health sector. He referred to the edict issued by the Taliban chief as a temporary suspension of female education until further notice.

Way Forward

The international community must continue to exert pressure on the Taliban to respect women's rights and allow girls to attend school and university. Education and protection against discrimination are basic human rights enshrined in international conventions, and the Taliban should be held accountable for violating these principles.

Women's employment levels fall

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women's employment levels have fallen drastically. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that female employment levels in the country dropped by 25% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021, before the Taliban takeover. This decline has been attributed to the Taliban's restrictions on women's participation in the labour market, with home-based self-employment becoming the primary form of women's participation.

The decrease in female employment has been more significant than that of men, whose employment levels saw a 7% drop in the same period. The ILO's Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan, Ramin Behzad, stated that restrictions on women and girls have severe implications for their education and labour market prospects. He emphasized the need to provide equal access to education and decent employment opportunities for young women and men, which is crucial for the future of Afghanistan's economy and society.

The loss of female workers in various sectors, including civil servants, teachers, doctors, journalists, and business owners, has had a detrimental economic impact. The UN Women executive director, Sima Bahous, estimated that the restrictions on women's employment resulted in an immediate economic loss of up to $1 billion, or up to 5% of Afghanistan's GDP. The former minister of mines, Nargis Nehan, noted that only a small number of women are allowed to work, and they face challenges in running businesses due to the Taliban's dress code requirements and the fear of punishment for non-compliance.

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law, which restricts women's freedom, has led to a reversal of hard-won gains in women's rights over the last two decades. Women's participation in the workforce had reached approximately 22% before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been steadily declining since then due to the pandemic and the Taliban takeover. The loss of jobs and the economic crisis in Afghanistan have disproportionately affected women, with enterprises struggling to stay afloat and female entrepreneurs facing significant challenges in continuing their businesses.

The decline in women's employment levels has had far-reaching consequences, including a negative impact on household incomes and the ability of families to meet their basic needs. Many Afghan women are the sole breadwinners in their families, and the loss of jobs has left them struggling to support themselves and their families. The restrictions on women's participation in the economy and public life have also hindered the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, exacerbating the country's dire economic situation.

Women's rights to work and education

Right to Work

Under the Taliban, women's participation in the labour market has been severely restricted. Women have been barred from working for domestic and foreign NGOs, and from working in most fields of employment. Women have also been ordered to wear head-to-toe clothing in public and have been banned from parks and gyms.

Women who do still have jobs to go to have to be accompanied by a male relative on their journey to work. This restriction has pushed many families deeper into poverty.

Right to Education

The Taliban has banned girls from attending secondary school and women from attending university. This has been described as a humanitarian disaster.

The Taliban has also altered the school curriculum to focus more on religious studies. Girls' primary schools remain open, but teachers have not been paid.

International Response

The international community has responded to the Taliban's treatment of women and girls with widespread condemnation. The UN has called on the Taliban to end the harmful annihilation of women's rights and to lift restrictions on women, including on their working with NGOs.

The UN has also urged the international community to continue to provide robust support to Afghan women, including by reaffirming their commitment to women's rights to education and employment.

Frequently asked questions