António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has expressed deep concern about ongoing restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban authorities to immediately lift the ban on Afghan women working for the UN and enable their full and equal participation in society. In a new statement, the UN said Guterres remains “deeply concerned” about the Taliban’s policies and restrictions on Afghan women and girls. According to the statement, these restrictions affect almost every aspect of their lives, limiting access to education, participation in public life and many areas of employment. The Secretary-General described the restrictions as violations of women’s and girls’ fundamental rights, stressing that they affect women’s lives and pose a serious obstacle to economic development, stability and Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community .
One year of Afghan women being barred from UN offices
The statement comes as restrictions on Afghan women’s access to UN offices across Afghanistan approach their first anniversary. According to the UN statement, Afghan women have been barred from entering its facilities in Afghanistan over the past year. The UN says this restriction conflicts with international obligations, including the UN Charter, and undermines its ability to carry out its work in Afghanistan. It warns that restrictions on female staff continue while humanitarian needs remain widespread and millions of people require various forms of assistance.
Why is women’s involvement in humanitarian work important?
The UN stresses that all its staff need unimpeded access to their workplaces to fulfil its mandates and assist vulnerable people. In Afghan society in particular, female staff are essential to delivering assistance and services to women and girls. According to the UN, enabling women to work in humanitarian assistance and essential services allows aid organisations to reach women and girls in culturally appropriate ways who might otherwise miss out on some services. Restrictions on female staff can therefore directly affect the quality and reach of humanitarian assistance.
Call for the immediate lifting of the ban on women working for the UN
Guterres has again called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to lift the ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations immediately. He also called for female UN staff to have safe and unimpeded access to UN offices and facilities throughout Afghanistan. The Secretary-General’s appeal extends beyond women’s work for the UN: he has urged the Taliban authorities to lift all restrictions on women and girls. He stressed that their right to full, equal and meaningful participation in every area of Afghan society must be respected.
Restrictions with consequences beyond women’s rights
The Secretary-General’s statement shows that the UN views restrictions on women as an issue connected to Afghanistan’s economic and political future as well as individual rights. Excluding a large part of Afghanistan’s population from education, employment and social participation can affect economic development and national stability, while creating serious obstacles to efforts to broaden engagement with the international community. The Secretary-General has called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to respect women’s and girls’ rights and enable their equal participation in every part of society.
Source: This report is based on a statement attributable to Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, concerning Afghanistan. The statement was issued in New York on 6 September 2026 and published on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) website.
