Attachments
Key messages
- The new decree from DfA banning women NGO staff from working have resulted in many NGOs stopping their humanitarian activities for now. Women staff have an important role to ensure outreach to women and girls in humanitarian response in Afghanistan. Without them, humanitarian organizations cannot access many of the people most in need including women and girls.
- NGOs believe that it is the right of all members of the community to receive assistance according to their need (for men, women, boys and girls and those with disabilities).
- Only a woman understands women’s problems and needs, and to provide services directly to them. NGO offices need women staff to prepare and support implementation according to the needs of women and girls in the communities.
- Women staff are vital in all phases of humanitarian activities. Only women NGO employees can identify needs and priorities of women and girls and ensure the services meet women’s needs and are culturally appropriate for local communities in need. Women staff are the point of contact for women and girls in local communities.
- Women make up half of the Afghanistan population. If women continue to be banned from working in humanitarian sector, half of the Afghanistan’s population would not be able to raise their voices or receive assistance.
- Women’s work in health and education programmes are exempted from this ban due to their importance. Women’s work in NGOs is equally important in providing food, water, and protection to Afghans. If women do not work, everyone in need of humanitarian assistance, especially households headed by women, will be at risk.
- NGOs require women staff to meet the needs of women and maintain the culture and religious beliefs of Afghan people. Lack of women working at NGOs could increase the chance of doing harms to women.
- The humanitarian community is negotiating to reverse the ban. The ban only applies to women humanitarian workers, but it does not prevent women in communities from accessing assistance. Women can continue to come collect food and other assistance to cover their needs.
- Community members who receive humanitarian assistance have the right to raise concerns to NGOs through NGO staff and AWAAZ free hotline number (410). Through AWAAZ helpline, women and girls can speak with women staff and share their concerns, including on women related issues.