U.N. chief condemns Taliban ban on Afghan women working for U.N.

UNITED NATIONS/KABUL, April 5 (Reuters) - U.N. chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a ban by Afghanistan's Taliban authorities on Afghan women working for the United Nations, calling it "an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights" that should be immediately revoked.

The United Nations has told some 3,300 Afghan staff - of which about 400 are female - not to report to their offices until further notice for security reasons. Some 600 international staff in the country are not affected by the ban.

"Banning Afghan women from working with the U.N. in Afghanistan is an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights," Guterres posted on Twitter. "I call on the Taliban to immediately revoke this decision."

The U.N. Security Council is due to discuss the situation behind closed doors on Friday, diplomats said.

Taliban administration spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. The administration, which seized power as U.S.-led forces withdrew, says it respects women's rights in line with its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Top U.N. officials in Kabul met with the Acting Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Kh...
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