UN Raises Alarm Over Ongoing Education Ban on Afghan Girls

DID Press: UN voiced renewed concern over the continued denial of education to girls in Afghanistan, urging authorities to immediately lift restrictions. Richard Bennett, the UN’s special rapporteur, issued the warning as the new school year begins alongside the Persian New Year.

In a message posted on the social platform X, Bennett said girls above sixth grade remain barred from attending school, while women are still prohibited from enrolling in universities. He described the situation as “unacceptable” and stressed the need for urgent change.

International organizations have repeatedly warned that restricting girls’ education threatens not only their personal futures but also Afghanistan’s long-term social and economic development.

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, sweeping limitations on women and girls have been imposed, including bans on secondary and higher education—undermining two decades of progress in female schooling.

Once among the fastest-growing education systems for girls in the region, Afghanistan now faces mounting global pressure as the issue becomes a central human rights concern. The United Nations and partner institutions continue to call for immediate action, emphasizing that restoring girls’ access to education is essential for human rights protection and sustainable national development.