The first anniversary of the deprivation of Afghan girls from education; UNAMA called for the reopening of schools
On the first anniversary of the exclusion of girls from secondary and high schools, the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMA) asked the caretaker government of the Taliban to reopen girls’ schools.
In a statement, UNAMA said that a year has passed since girls above the sixth grade were deprived of education, and schools for female students in Afghanistan have not yet been reopened.
Marks Putzel, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in the statement: “This is a sad, shameful and completely avoidable anniversary.”
He added: “The continuous deprivation of girls from secondary and high schools has no valid justification and has no parallel anywhere in the world.” This is very harmful for a generation of girls and the future of Afghanistan itself.”
In its announcement, UNAMA estimated that more than one million girls were banned from going to secondary and high schools last year.
UNAMA added that the denial of education is a violation of the most fundamental rights of girls and women, and it increases the risk of marginalization, violence, exploitation and abuse of girls and is part of a wider range of discriminatory policies and practices that affect women and girls. They are being targeted by the ruling authorities since taking power in the summer of 2021.
The United Nations has once again asked the Taliban to withdraw from the set of measures they have taken to restrict the enjoyment of Afghan women and girls from their basic rights and freedoms.
According to the UNAMA announcement, the international community is ready to support a government that represents all people and respects their rights.
