Liberia Raises Concern Over Taliban Restrictions On Female UN Workers In Afghanistan

NEW YORK, USA – Liberia has placed the participation of Afghan women in humanitarian operations at the center of its latest position on Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to remove restrictions affecting female United Nations personnel as the Security Council examines the country’s continuing human rights and humanitarian challenges.

Liberia joined France and other signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security in expressing solidarity with Afghan women and girls during a Security Council press stakeout on September 16, 2026. The joint position called for the removal of restrictions on women and girls and an end to human rights abuses.

For Liberia, the issue extends beyond women’s rights alone. The country emphasized the role Afghan female UN personnel play in humanitarian assistance and in implementing the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA.

That concern comes amid continuing restrictions on Afghan women working with the United Nations. UN officials said during the latest Security Council briefing that restrictions affecting female personnel have created serious difficulties for humanitarian work and access to women and girls who need assistance.

The United Nations’ latest assessment of Afghanistan said the country continues to face serious political, humanitarian and human rights challenges five years after the Taliban’s return to power. It noted that severe restrictions on women and girls remain unresolved despite other developments cited by the Taliban, including improvements in security and economic stabilization.

Liberia’s intervention therefore connects the protection of women’s rights with the practical delivery of humanitarian assistance. Female humanitarian workers can play an important role in reaching women and girls in circumstances where cultural, social or security conditions may limit interaction between women beneficiaries and male personnel.

The restrictions affecting female UN workers have been a continuing issue before the Security Council. A 2026 Security Council resolution also expressed concern over the Taliban’s ban on women working for the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan, as well as restrictions preventing Afghan women from accessing UN premises.

Liberia also urged the Taliban to meet its international obligations and commitments, including obligations under CEDAW and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The country further expressed support for international accountability efforts designed to document alleged violations of international human rights law. Such mechanisms are intended to preserve evidence and support international efforts to address serious rights violations.

The September 16 Security Council meeting highlighted the continuing disagreement between the Taliban’s claims about governance and the concerns raised by UN officials and member states about restrictions on women and girls. The UN’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan said there had been no progress on several issues of profound concern to Afghans and the international community, including restrictions on women and girls and the wider human rights crisis.

Afghanistan’s human rights situation has remained closely connected to discussions about the country’s reintegration into the international community. UN officials and Security Council members have continued to emphasize that women’s participation in society, access to education and employment, and meaningful participation in public life remain important elements of Afghanistan’s future.

Liberia’s latest position places the country within the Security Council’s continuing diplomatic effort to address the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan while maintaining international engagement with the country.

The position also reflects Liberia’s participation in the broader Women, Peace and Security agenda, which promotes women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace and security processes. Liberia has continued domestic efforts connected to that agenda, including recent initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in Liberia’s security sector.