UK Envoy Condemns Ban on Afghan Women Entering UN Offices

Britain’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, has condemned restrictions preventing Afghan women from entering United Nations offices and compounds, saying the rights of women must be respected.

His remarks came after UN experts issued a fresh warning that the continued ban is undermining both human rights and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan.

Lindsay said the United Kingdom stands with UN experts in rejecting the restrictions, stressing that without women, the UN’s ability to support vulnerable communities is severely weakened. Humanitarian officials have repeatedly said female staff are essential to reaching Afghan women and children, especially in conservative areas where male aid workers face access barriers.

UN experts and UN officials say Afghan women, including female UN employees, have been barred from entering UN premises since September 2025. The United Nations has described the move as a breach of international obligations and warned that it has already disrupted aid delivery, field access, and emergency support operations in multiple parts of the country.

The latest criticism adds to growing international pressure on the Taliban over a wider pattern of restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education, work, and freedom of movement. British officials have repeatedly said Afghanistan cannot achieve stability or recovery while half of its population remains excluded from public life.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed a series of sweeping restrictions on Afghan women and girls, steadily removing them from schools, universities, workplaces, and public spaces. These measures have drawn strong condemnation from the UN, Western governments, and rights organizations, which argue they violate both international law and Afghanistan’s own obligations.

The latest condemnation from the UK and UN experts highlights how the ban on women entering UN offices has become both a human rights issue and a humanitarian obstacle. As pressure mounts, the restrictions continue to deepen Afghanistan’s isolation and limit assistance to those most in need.

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