UK calls on Taliban to reverse ban on women’s medical education

The UK Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, Robert Dickson, has urged Taliban officials to reverse their decision to ban women from medical education and training, Afghan Amu news outlet said. During a visit to Kabul, Dickson met with Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, to highlight the severe humanitarian impact of the restriction.

“We strongly condemn this decision and urge Taliban leaders to reverse this latest restriction,” Dickson said, warning that it would endanger the lives of women and girls across Afghanistan. The UK official cited World Health Organization data ranking Afghanistan with the ninth-highest maternal mortality rate globally and emphasized the critical need for female healthcare workers.

Dickson also reaffirmed the UK’s support for the UN-led Doha process, aimed at assessing Afghanistan’s political and humanitarian landscape, while urging the Taliban to uphold international human rights obligations.

In addition to meeting Taliban officials, Dickson engaged with Afghan women, humanitarian NGOs, private sector representatives, and diplomats. The Taliban’s widening restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on education and employment, have drawn sharp international criticism, further isolating Afghanistan amid its ongoing humanitarian emergency.