Taliban authorities allow some women employees to return to work.

ABSTRACT

PIP Following the closure of UN-supported widows' bakeries in Kabul, Afghanistan, Taliban authorities announced that they would allow 360 female employees to return to work. This invalidation is in line with the decree that bans women from working for UN agencies and international nongovernmental organizations except in the health sector. Although no explanation for the sudden policy change has been given, Taliban's Foreign Minister stated that the government has no objection to these women working at the bakeries because they are not regular employees of the UN. According to Stephanie Bunker, spokesperson for the Office of the UN coordinator for Afghanistan, the policy change is a positive step in the right direction on the part of the local authorities in Kabul. However, the UN continues to be concerned about the impact of the decree on Afghan women overall.^ieng