UN Condemns Taliban’s Ban on Women in Medical Training

The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has condemned a recent directive from the Taliban that prohibits Afghan women and girls from enrolling in private medical training institutions, a decision that experts caution will worsen Afghanistan's healthcare crisis.

OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani described the ban as “yet another direct blow” to Afghan women and girls, highlighting that it not only obstructs their access to higher education but also jeopardizes the future of the nation’s healthcare system. Afghanistan faces one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, and the restriction is anticipated further to hinder women's access to essential healthcare services.

The Taliban’s policies currently restrict male medical professionals from treating women unless they are accompanied by a male relative, which underscores the essential role of female healthcare workers. The absence of new generations of female nurses and midwives may exacerbate the system's fragility, resulting in unnecessary suffering and fatalities.

UN agencies and human rights experts have voiced serious concerns. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) described the ban as having a “detrimental impact” on Afghanistan’s healthcare system and overall development. In the meantime, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, characterized the decision as “profoundly discriminatory” and “inexplicable,” cautioning about its potentially life-threatening repercussions.

“This decision undermines the fundamental rights of women and Afghanistan’s commitments under international law,” Shamdasani emphasized, urging for the immediate reversal of the directive.

The ban contributes to an expanding array of restrictions enacted by the Taliban since regaining control in 2021, which includes barring girls from secondary and higher education and constraining women's mobility and employment opportunities.

The international community persists in urging the Taliban to uphold women's rights; however, with no indication of a shift in policy, Afghanistan confronts a concerning healthcare and human rights crisis.

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