Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Japanese government on Friday expressed “deep concern” over the Taliban’s decision on Thursday to prevent female employees at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan from going to work.

The latest move against women by the Taliban comes after they had already suspended girls’ secondary and higher education, and issued a notice to national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Afghanistan prohibiting their female employees from going to work. 

“Japan is deeply concerned with the situation and strongly condemns the Taliban’s further restrictions on the rights of women despite repeated efforts by Japan and the international community to call on the Taliban to change their course of action,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that Afghanistan is already in a serious humanitarian crisis and UN agencies play an important role in delivering assistance to the Afghan people. It believes that the series of measures taken by the Taliban over the past year may further endanger many Afghan people, who depend on humanitarian assistance.

“Japan will continue to work with the international community to urge the Taliban to reverse its oppressive measures, including restrictions on the rights of women and girls, while continuing our own efforts to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the statement concluded.