Date: 21/06/1402 In its ongoing imposition of restrictions on women's employment, the 8am newspaper reports that the Taliban has instructed institutions to replace the term "women" with "households" in their statutes. Additionally, the group has removed women's names from the boards of directors of these institutions and has directed officials to replace them with male counterparts. Sources within these institutions report that the Taliban has effectively dismantled "women's NGOs" or transferred their management to men. Although this directive has not been issued in writing, it is being rigorously enforced. Concurrently, the Taliban governor of Urozgan province has stated that, in accordance with the supreme leader’s decree, the employment of women in institutions is "absolutely prohibited," a restriction that extends to the vaccination sector. In an audio recording attributed to this official, it is asserted that no organization is permitted to hire women for employment or to pay them wages for remote work. The United Nations Security Council had previously reported that the Taliban had removed women from the boards of directors of institutions and revoked their signing authority in humanitarian aid documentation. The Ministry of Economy, now under the control of the Taliban, has further instructed institutions to refrain from using the term "women" in their statutes and work-related reports. Sources familiar with the matter have informed 8am newspaper that, under this directive, institutions are required to replace the term "women" with "households" or other suitable alternatives. Although the Taliban has not formalized this directive in writing, it has been communicated verbally and is currently being enforced. These sources further highlight that the removal of women from leadership positions within institutions was carried out based on oral instructions. They emphasize that the Taliban is positioning these actions as temporary, verbal measures, seeking to present them as not having been formally enacted, especially in their political dealings with the international community.

The Taliban’s directive to remove the term “women” from institutional statutes and replace women in leadership positions with male appointees reflects a systematic effort to erase women’s visibility and participation in public and professional life. These measures, although issued verbally to avoid international scrutiny, effectively dismantle women’s NGOs, prohibit female employment—including in key sectors like healthcare—and undermine women’s economic independence and civic agency.