Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A statement issued in Brussels by the EU's foreign policy coordinator's office said that two days ago the Taliban reportedly issued an order banning women from working in national and international NGOs, and these organizations threatened to withdraw their permits in case of non-compliance. This followed last week's ban on women from attending university and the violent suppression of peaceful protests by women against the decision.
The EU is appalled by these decisions, which add to previous restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women's ability and right to work, access an education and, as has been repeatedly emphasized by the entire international community, constitute a clear violation of their basic human rights. Together, they amount to the erasure of women from the public space.
According to the European statement, an estimated 30 million Afghans - men, women and children - currently depend on humanitarian aid, including food and medical aid, for their survival. Effective needs assessment and delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as assistance to meet basic needs and support livelihoods, requires safe and unhindered access for aid workers, including women, across the country. Women have a particularly important role to play in providing assistance to other women. Restricting women's participation in this crucial work will prevent such assistance from being provided to a large part of the population, including widows and families led by women and children.

The European Union, as a major provider of humanitarian assistance and the basic needs of the people of Afghanistan, strongly condemns this ban and calls on the Taliban to immediately lift its decision, as part of its commitment to respect international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. In the meantime, the EU will assess the impact of the Taliban's decision on the EU's ability to continue providing assistance to Afghans in need.

Together with other providers of assistance to the people of Afghanistan, the European Union will have to consider the consequences of this decision, and the recent decision by the Taliban to close universities to women, on their engagement with our countries and organisations.