Former Afghan president, UN officials call for reopening of schools for Afghan girls

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai highlighted the importance of education for Afghanistan’s future, stating that the country can achieve independence and prosperity through education, Afghan news outlet Amu reported.

On International Education Day, Karzai called for the reopening of schools and universities for Afghan girls, emphasizing that education is key to the nation’s development and global standing.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, condemned the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education as a severe human rights violation, urging the international community to recognize the impact of this ban, as Afghanistan is the only country where girls are prohibited from attending school.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also marked the day by calling the ban a disaster for the country’s future development. Both Karzai and UN officials stressed the necessity of lifting the ban to ensure equal access to education for all Afghan children, particularly girls, to foster national growth and self-reliance.