Women’s work in Afghanistan | “This is the worst news we can have”

Voices are raised against the Taliban’s decision to ban Afghan women from working for NGOs

In the midst of a humanitarian crisis, Afghan women and girls are the first victims of the Taliban’s new ban preventing them from working for non-governmental organizations. A decision decried by the international community, including Canada.

“For us, with the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, this is the worst news we can have,” laments Patrick Robitaille, head of humanitarian affairs for the international organization Save the Children, himself based in Montreal.

Like other organizations, Save the Children made the difficult decision to suspend its activities in Afghanistan following the Taliban decree banning women from working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) last Saturday.

This ban is in addition to a series of measures aimed at restricting women’s access to public life since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The latest: preventing women from studying at university.

On Thursday, Canada added its voice to those of other G7 countries to call on the Taliban to reverse their decision, described as “reckless” and “dangerous”. The UN also assured that it would continue its efforts to negotiate with the Taliban.

“The Taliban continue to demonstrate their contempt for the rights, freedoms and well-being of the Afghan people, especially women and girls, and their disinterest in normal relations with the international community”, denounced on Twitter Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

” Whether [les femmes] are unable to participate in delivering aid to Afghanistan, NGOs will not be able to reach the most vulnerable people in the country to provide them with the food, medicine, wintering and other materials and services that these people need to live,” said Global Affairs Canada in a joint statement with the other G7 countries, the Security Council and UN Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday evening.

Women, essential to the work of NGOs

Nearly half of Save the Children’s Afghan employees are women, or 2,500 workers out of a total of 5,700, says Robitaille. Maintaining the activities of the organization without them is an impossible logistical challenge.

In addition to their weight within the workforce, these employees are also essential in reaching the most vulnerable population. “Without our female employees, it is very difficult to reach women and girls across Afghanistan,” said Reyhana Patel, director of communications at Islamic Relief Canada. The organization has suspended all activities except those providing emergency support.

“Suspending our operations was not a decision that we took lightly, but we had no choice, also explains Annika Hampson, responsible for Iran and Afghanistan for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Without women, we simply cannot access the most vulnerable population. »

An exception has been made so far for employees in the health sector. Women working for Doctors Without Borders can therefore continue their work, says Sarah Chateau, operations manager for the organization.

“But it is clear that if one day we can no longer treat women, or if we cannot work with women, that is part of the red line for us, supports M^me Chateau. If tomorrow we are forbidden to treat women, then men will have to face up to their decision and treat themselves. »

A humanitarian crisis

At the start of winter, the conditions are catastrophic for a large part of the Afghan population. In this country, almost half of the population – 23 million people – suffers from hunger.

Last August, the UN Security Council warned that famine was stalking 6 million people due to the “humanitarian, economic, climatic, food and financial crises that are befalling the country”.

“The stories we hear from the field are overwhelming,” protests M^me Patel from Islamic Relief. “In the past few months, a story I heard over and over again was of mothers having to choose between feeding their families or marrying off their youngest daughters. »

What can Quebecers do in the face of this tragedy on the other side of the globe? “We have a duty of solidarity,” says Patrick Robitaille. As we move into a new year, Afghans must not be forgotten, however difficult that may be. »