UNICEF Warns Afghanistan’s Girls’ Education Ban Threatens National Stability

UNICEF Warns Afghanistan’s Girls’ Education Ban Threatens National Stability
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UNICEF has warned that Afghanistan’s ongoing ban on girls’ education for the fourth consecutive year poses a severe threat to the country’s future and regional stability, according to a statement issued Wednesday. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, girls above sixth grade and women in universities have been barred from attending school, a move UNICEF described as one of the gravest injustices of our time.

The organization highlighted the broader social and economic consequences, including rising rates of early marriage, mental health issues, and declining opportunities for national growth. It noted that the return of over two million Afghans from neighboring countries this year could further exacerbate the number of girls deprived of schooling.

UNICEF stressed that 92% of Afghans support girls’ right to education, reflecting widespread opposition to the ban. The agency called on the international community to act and urged the immediate lifting of restrictions to prevent long-term social, economic, and ideological setbacks.