In April 2023 the Taliban barred Afghan women from working for the United Nations in Afghanistan. This decision extends the Taliban’s directive previously announced in December 2022, banning Afghan women from working for national and international non-governmental organizations. In response, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) protested, stating the UN could not comply with the ban.
How should the UN address this diplomatic standoff?
If UNAMA concedes, it is contrary to the UN Charter and UN norms on women and gender. If it reacts by pausing operations, millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance will be impacted.
Panelists will assess the UN’s options and propose recommendations to UNAMA.
Panelists
Asila Wardak, Former Director-General of UN affairs at Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry
Orzala Nemat, Founder, Development Research Group Limited
Nilofar Sakhi, Professorial Lecturer, George Washington University
Latif Fayaz, Former Country Advisor to NATO's Senior Civilian Representative and UNAMA/MAU Staff
Sanam Naraghi, Founder and CEO, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
Kaja Borchgrevink, Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
Moderated by Aref Dostyar, Senior Advisor on Afghanistan for AfPAD and former Consul General of Afghanistan in Los Angeles, USA
This event is co-sponsored by PRIO and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.
