Afghanistan

UN May Exit Afghanistan Over Local Female Staff Ban

APR 18 2023·Updated APR 19 2023

Story

Image credit: EPA [via The Guardian]

The Facts

The UN Development Program Administrator, Achim Steiner, on Tuesday stated the organization is prepared to leave Afghanistan in May unless the Taliban lets local women work for the UN. Steiner noted that the course of action would be "heartbreaking."
The Associated Press
UN officials have been urging the Afghan government to reverse an order made earlier this month, which banned local women from working for the UN and creates difficulties for the organization in interacting with Afghan women.
The Telegraph
This ultimatum comes as it's estimated that two-thirds of Afghanistan's population will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, with the US and other G7 nations also threatening to cut aid as the Taliban refuses to shift its stance.
guardian
Since April 12, the 3.3K Afghans employed by the UN — 600 of whom are women — have been working from home. The organization also has 600 international staff; though women represent one-third of this contingent, they are not affected by the ban.
The Associated Press
The UN last week instructed all of its personnel — men and women — to avoid reporting to its premises in the country, following the introduction of the Taliban's latest measure restraining women and girls' participation in public and daily life.
CNN
On Monday, however, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the organization plans to arrange a conference to discuss granting a principled recognition to the Taliban. While she didn't detail the date, former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday claimed it will be held in Doha, Qatar, on May 1.
VOA

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The UN is doing all it can to aid the people of Afghanistan but the Taliban is continuously making the mission harder, seeking to force the organization to choose between staying to help the Afghan people and upholding its own principles. Any negative consequences emerging from this crisis will be the responsibility of the Taliban-appointed authorities.

UN News

Narrative B

It's certain that the situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating, but this crisis will only worsen if the UN decides to pull out of the country. The only way forward is to move beyond the International community's current reactive approach, and instead, restore an active diplomatic presence in the nation to negotiate with Taliban representatives and find solutions.

Lowy Institute