UN renews call for reversal of girls’ education ban in Afghanistan amid global ICT awareness day

UN renews call for reversal of girls’ education ban in Afghanistan amid global ICT awareness day
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The United Nations has renewed its call for Afghan authorities to restore girls’ access to education, warning that continued restrictions are deepening a long-term humanitarian and development crisis in the country.

In statements marking International Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the ongoing ban on secondary and higher education for girls risks depriving an entire generation of Afghan women of formal schooling. UNAMA urged the de facto authorities to immediately reverse the restrictions and comply with international obligations on education rights.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) has also reported that girls and women in Afghanistan face significant barriers to education, employment, and access to essential services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban administration has imposed a nationwide ban on secondary education for girls and later extended restrictions to universities and many forms of employment for women. The measures have made Afghanistan the only country in the world currently enforcing such sweeping limitations on female education at all post-primary levels.

UN agencies have repeatedly warned that the policy is contributing to rising poverty, weakening long-term economic prospects, and increasing the vulnerability of female-headed households. They also caution that the exclusion of girls from education will have lasting effects on Afghanistan’s healthcare system, workforce capacity, and overall development trajectory.

Humanitarian officials further note that the restrictions are occurring alongside broader challenges, including limited access to basic services and reduced opportunities for participation in public life.

The United Nations has consistently described the situation as a major setback for global education goals and continues to call for the full restoration of girls’ and women’s rights to education across Afghanistan.