UNICEF: Afghanistan’s New Academic Year Begins Amid Education Ban for 400,000 Girls
As the new academic year starts in Afghanistan, 400,000 girls remain barred from education, bringing the total number of girls unable to attend secondary and high school to 2.2 million, Khaama Press reported. This alarming situation has raised significant international concern regarding the future of girls in Afghanistan.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, issued a statement on March 22, emphasizing that the ongoing ban on education poses a serious threat to millions of girls and could have dire consequences for the entire nation if not addressed.
UNICEF warns that if the ban persists until 2030, more than four million girls will be denied education beyond primary school, severely limiting their opportunities and exacerbating gender inequality in the region. The education restrictions not only jeopardize the health and well-being of Afghan girls but also lead to increased forced marriages and a decline in women’s roles in the healthcare sector, resulting in a shortage of female doctors and midwives, which endangers the lives of mothers and infants.
The organization estimates that the education ban could lead to 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. Despite these challenges, UNICEF continues to support Afghan children, particularly girls, through community-based education initiatives.
The international community has consistently urged the Taliban to lift the restrictions on girls’ education, but there has been no change in the authorities’ position. UNICEF has called for the immediate removal of the education ban, labeling the current situation a “catastrophe” that demands urgent action to protect the future of Afghanistan’s children and society.
