Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the Islamic Emirate’s recent decision to suspend women’s employment has significantly impacted aid operations in Afghanistan.
Speaking at the press conference, Borrell added that the European Union is committed to continuing humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and that this aid will be monitored.
“And then we went on to discuss the deplorable decision by the Taliban to stop Afghan women from working in aid delivery. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are creating a ‘gender apartheid,’ and this ‘gender apartheid’ is having a significant impact on aid operations in Afghanistan,” Borrell said.
Borrell noted: “On this principle, our support will continue because we don’t want to punish twice the Afghan women, but this has to be closely monitored and decided on a case-by-case basis during a trial period,” he said.
“We hope that Western society will use unusual methods and serious measures that will enable the Afghan women to achieve their most basic right, which is the right to employment, the right to education, and other matters in the Islamic framework,” said Farah Mustafawi, a women’s rights activist.
“The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan requires considerable international assistance, and the world’s aid should continue without conditions to stop the situation from getting worse,” said Shakir Yaqubi, an economist.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy considers the humanitarian aid of the EU important and asked this union to provide its aid in the humanitarian and development sector in Afghanistan.
“We ask that the European Union continue to provide humanitarian and development aid to the people of Afghanistan so that we can take more significant steps toward the nation’s economic self-sufficiency.” said Abdul Latif Nazari, a deputy in the ministry of the economy.
Nearly two months have passed since the suspension of women’s work in non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan.
According to some aid agencies, this suspension has made it more difficult to provide aid to Afghanistan.
