The UK has strongly condemned the Taliban's systematic discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan, according to a statement made by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan. The statement, delivered on 16 September 2026, highlighted that no country can prosper while half its population is excluded from public life.
Ambassador Foster called on the Taliban to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans in accordance with international law. The statement noted that it has been one year since the Taliban barred Afghan women working for the United Nations from accessing UN premises, a restriction that continues to hinder the delivery of essential assistance.
The UK also reiterated its call for de-escalation and renewed dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, urging all parties to avoid actions that risk further instability. Meaningful action against terrorist groups operating in and out of Afghanistan, along with the protection of civilians, was also called for.
Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian situation due to large-scale returns, extreme weather, and reductions in international assistance. The UK stated that the exclusion of women and girls from public life by the Taliban is exacerbating these pressures and undermining Afghanistan's long-term prosperity.
The UK remains committed to the Afghan people, providing over $140 million annually over the next three years for essential, life-saving assistance. Last year, UK-funded programmes reached at least five million people, including more than three million women and girls, with a commitment to ensuring women and girls make up at least half of those reached through UK assistance.