UNAMA: Girls’ Education Ban Endangers Afghanistan’s Future

DID Press: On the occasion of International Literacy Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) renewed its call for equal access to education for women and girls, expressing deep concern over the Taliban caretaker government’s continued restrictions and stressing that no society can progress without full participation of women.

In a statement, UNAMA urged the immediate lifting of these restrictions, noting: “While Afghanistan’s literary and cultural heritage is being celebrated, education must be accessible to all — especially women and girls. No society can advance without their full participation.”

Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA, attended a ceremony marking the day, describing education as the foundation of development and empowerment, and reiterated that the international community continues to call for reopening of schools and universities to girls.

Four years after the Taliban’s return to power, girls above sixth grade remain barred from attending school and higher education institutions.

According to published figures, at least 2.2 million Afghanistani girls have been deprived of primary and secondary education, a number that UNESCO warns may rise to over 4 million by 2030.

UNAMA stressed that the continuation of this situation not only constitutes a blatant violation of human rights but will also have devastating impacts on Afghanistan’s economic, social, and health sectors.

Recent World Health Organization reports have also highlighted a severe shortage of female doctors in remote provinces such as Kunar.

Marking International Literacy Day, UNESCO described literacy as a fundamental human right, noting that 739 million people worldwide still lack basic reading and writing skills. It also reported that four in ten children do not acquire foundational literacy skills and that over 270 million children and adolescents remain out of school.

This year’s theme for International Literacy Day is “Promoting Literacy in Digital Age.” UNESCO emphasized that modern technologies can serve as effective tools to expand educational access, particularly for marginalized groups such as women and girls in Afghanistan.