Some female United Nations employees in Kabul have been forced out of work after being subjected to organized stalking and harassment by unknown men, sources disclose. The intimidation campaign, which was conducted in late May, consisted of bands of men shadowing Afghan female UN employees from the offices to their residences, making graphic death threats against them and their male relatives.
These Afghan nationals working for international organizations are key to the provision of assistance throughout Afghanistan, which is faced with a dire humanitarian crisis after NATO withdrawal in 2021. UN activities relying on female workers have become more dependent as the Taliban imposed restrictive regulations, such as an April 2023 decree excluding women from the majority of workplaces under the pretext of Sharia laws, amid intense scrutiny and controversy.
A UN source, who wished to remain anonymous, added that the men coerced male relatives by gunpoint to make the women stay home, even taking videos as evidence. Because of persistent safety issues, these women’s work has been curtailed or put on hold.
The Taliban government in Kabul has denied any involvement but reported that they are investigating the incidents. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed it had brought the issue up with the de facto authorities and that UN agencies have modified operations to safeguard personnel while continuing aid activities.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has directed female employees to work from home for a while, albeit food distribution to vulnerable women-headed households continues unabated. UN assistance is presently benefiting more than 23 million Afghans, dependent largely on female employees for key assignments.
The interior ministry of the Taliban said it deplores any intimidation against UN staff and threatened severe punishment for perpetrators, admitting realization of the harassment reports.
