U.N. chief condemns Taliban ban on Afghan women working for U.N

FILE PHOTO: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses to delegates during a general assembly to vote on whether to ask top global court to issue opinion on climate responsibility at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

UNITED NATIONS/KABUL (Reuters) -U.N. chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a ban by Afghanistan's Taliban authorities on Afghan women working for the United Nations, calling it "an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights" that should be immediately revoked.

The United Nations has told some 3,300 Afghan staff - of which about 400 are female - not to report to their offices until further notice for security reasons. Some 600 international staff in the country are not affected by the ban.