Amnesty Calls for Global Action to Reopen Girls’ Schools in Afghanistan

DID Press: Amnesty International has called on the international community to exert coordinated pressure on the Taliban to reopen secondary schools for girls and end restrictions on the education of women and girls in Afghanistan, marking five years since the ban came into effect.

In a statement, Amnesty said millions of Afghan girls have been denied their right to secondary education since September 2021, describing the period as “five years of stolen dreams.” The organization urged immediate international action to reopen girls’ schools and end what it described as systematic discrimination against women and girls.

Amnesty also highlighted the testimony of a 17-year-old Afghan student who said she was excited to return to school but was prevented from entering her classroom.

“I was so excited to return to school, but they did not let us enter the classroom. What am I supposed to do with my life within the four walls of my home?” the student said, according to Amnesty.

The organization said Afghan women and girls have continued to seek education through online schools, community-based initiatives and other alternatives despite restrictions and risks. It called for coordinated international measures aimed at protecting their rights and holding authorities accountable.

The appeal comes as Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are effectively barred from secondary and higher education. UNICEF said in August that more than 2.6 million girls had been denied secondary education since 2021, when girls were barred from formal education beyond Grade 6.