UN Voices Concern Over Taliban’s Ban on Girls’ Education in Afghanistan

The United Nations expressed deep concern over the ongoing ban on secondary education for girls in Taliban-led Afghanistan, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child, VOA reported yesterday.

Roza Otunbayeva, head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, urged Taliban leaders to lift restrictions that have kept over 1,100 days of girls aged 12 and older from attending school. She highlighted the significant loss of opportunities not just for girls, but for families and communities, warning that Afghanistan is regressing in its pursuit of peace and prosperity.

Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, women have faced severe restrictions, including bans on university attendance and employment in public and private sectors. Recent “vice and virtue” laws have further curtailed women’s freedoms, mandating full-body coverings and limiting interactions with men. The Taliban defends its policies as aligned with Sharia law, dismissing international criticism.

It should be mentioned that the U.N. recognizes October 11 to emphasize girls’ rights and the challenges they encounter globally.