The United Nations has confirmed that Afghan female UN workers in Kabul are facing serious threats. These warnings come amid reports that Taliban-linked individuals have stalked and harassed Afghan women employed by the organisation.
One week after the news first broke, the UN said that several female employees had to begin working from home. Their security had become a major concern. Some women reported being followed, insulted, and threatened in public and through anonymous calls.
At least three UN sources in Kabul told local Afghan media that on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, armed Taliban fighters had followed and intimidated multiple female UN staff in Kabul. These women worked across different UN agencies.
Speaking anonymously to AFP, several Afghan women shared chilling experiences. They described being harassed on the streets and receiving phone calls warning them to “stay home.” One Afghan woman working for the UN said she got several threatening messages over the past few weeks. The messages accused her of “working with foreigners” and included verbal abuse.
According to AFP, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that its Afghan women employees had received threats from unknown persons. These threats were linked directly to their work with the United Nations.
In an official statement, UNAMA said, “Several United Nations female national staff members in the Afghan capital Kabul have been subjected to threats by unidentified individuals related to their work with the UN.”
Due to the severity of the situation, the UN put in place temporary safety measures. These steps aim to protect their Afghan female UN workers until the risk is reduced.
The Taliban, however, denied any role in these actions. Abdul Mateen Qani, the Interior Ministry spokesperson, told AFP that the Taliban considers such threats to be “criminal acts.” He also said that the police would take legal action if the offenders are found.
Following the reports, UNAMA said that the Taliban authorities had launched an investigation into the matter.
It’s important to note that in 2022, the Taliban banned Afghan women from working with both local and foreign NGOs. In 2023, this restriction was also applied to United Nations offices. This ongoing crackdown continues to impact Afghan women at UN organisations and others trying to work in public roles.
