Announcing Government Without Women Officials, UN: The Taliban Misses Important Opportunity

Illustration of Afghan woman working in a textile factory in Kabul. (Wikimedia Commons/Senior Airman Andrea Salazar)

JAKARTA - The Taliban's commitment to the rights and protection of women is again in the spotlight, especially when the new Afghan government was announced, there was not a single female minister.

The lack of clarity about the Taliban's position on women in Afghanistan has raised "'tremendous fear' across the country, a senior UN official said on Wednesday, warning there were daily reports of restrictions on women's rights.

Alison Davidian, deputy head of UN Women in Afghanistan, said some women were barred from leaving their homes without male relatives, women in some provinces were forced to stop working, protection centers for women fleeing violence were targeted and safe houses for human rights activists were in prison full capacity.

"The lack of clarity of the Taliban's position on women's rights has created tremendous fear. And this fear is evident across the country", Davidian said speaking from Kabul, citing Reuters September 9.

"The vivid memories of the Taliban rule in the 1990s, when there were strict restrictions on the rights of women, women, and girls are understandably frightened", she continued.

Taliban leaders have vowed to respect women's rights in accordance with sharia, or Islamic law. But under Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, women were unable to work and girls were barred from going to school. Women must cover their faces and be accompanied by male relatives when they leave the house.

Earlier, in an interview with SBS News Australia, a senior Taliban official said women would not be allowed to play cricket, a popular sport in Afghanistan, or possibly any other sport. Because 'unnecessary' and their bodies may be exposed.

The Taliban group, which seized power last month, announced a new Afghan government on Tuesday that does not include women. At about the same time, in Kabul, dozens of women took to the streets again to demand their representation and rights to be protected.

"With yesterday's announcement, the Taliban missed an important opportunity to show the world that they are truly building an inclusive and prosperous society", Davidian said. UN Women works globally for gender equality and women's empowerment.