The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has expressed strong disapproval of a recent directive by the Taliban that prohibits Afghan women and girls from participating in private medical education. This initiative is expected to have severe repercussions on Afghanistan’s healthcare framework. The OHCHR has asserted that this decision serves as a significant hurdle for women and girls, annihilating their chances for higher education while simultaneously limiting the already deficient pool of female healthcare professionals in the country.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for OHCHR, stated the new measure is both “discriminatory” and “short-sighted,” putting the well-being of Afghan women and girls at considerable risk in various ways. Her comments align with the sentiments of the broader international community and human rights organizations. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has also called on the Taliban to reconsider and reverse this decision, citing Afghanistan’s commitments under international human rights law.
The decree, reportedly put forth by the Taliban’s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, was disseminated by the Minister of Public Health. This directive serves to close off one of the last educational opportunities available to women under Taliban governance. Since the group’s return to power in August 2021, they have progressively imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls, ranging from barring them from secondary school to limiting their presence in public and professional spaces.
Past directives from Taliban authorities have included stipulations such as requiring healthcare providers not to treat women who are not accompanied by a male guardian or do not adhere to a prescribed dress code. Educational opportunities for girls have been severely curtailed, with them being prohibited from attending school past the sixth grade and barred from universities since December 2022. The restrictions extend into societal participation as well, with women being excluded from public amenities like parks, gyms, and baths. A strict dress policy necessitating a full hijab or burqa is also imposed, along with travel constraints unless accompanied by a male relative.
Human rights groups argue that these systemic barriers serve as a grave violation of women’s rights and, by extension, exacerbate the already critical humanitarian crisis affecting the wider Afghan populace. More on this development can be found in the original report.