Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the human rights of the civilian population have been in a bad state. UNICEF is calling on those in power and the international community to take swift action.
In Afghanistan, girls have not been allowed to attend secondary schools for 1,000 days since the Taliban took power. The UN Children’s Fund Unicef pointed this out.
“For 1.5 million girls, this systematic exclusion is not only a blatant violation of their right to education, but also leads to diminishing opportunities and deteriorating mental health,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
When they regained power in August 2021, the Taliban closed girls’ schools from seventh grade onwards. Universities are also off-limits to women. Russel pointed out the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing education ban. “It exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis and has serious implications for Afghanistan’s economy and development path.”
Demand for timely action
In the past, Islamists have said that they only want to suspend education for older girls until unspecified conditions are created. So far, however, nothing has been done in this direction.
Recently, however, a few high-ranking Taliban officials have spoken out publicly in favor of women’s education. In some parts of the country, women and girls over the age of twelve still attend religious schools as well as midwifery and nursing schools.
Russel calls on those in power in Kabul to clear the way for girls and women to receive higher education. The international community must also not stop supporting women and girls in Afghanistan: “No country can develop if half of its population is left behind.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
