Afghan Women Demand Reopening of Schools and Universities
The UN and UNICEF highlight the education crisis for women in Afghanistan. Afghan women are demanding the reopening of schools and universities, almost three years after the Taliban took power in 2021. Many female students are uncertain about their future due to these closures.
A UN report states that 80% of school-age Afghan girls are out of school, and UNICEF reports over one million girls have been affected by the education ban.
In 2022, the Taliban banned women from universities and restricted secondary education for girls over 10 years old in some areas like Kandahar.
These restrictions have also impacted the economy. UNICEF estimates that barring girls from secondary education has cost Afghanistan over $500 million in the past year.
International organizations, including the UN General Assembly, stress the importance of protecting Afghan women’s rights, especially their right to education. The Taliban insists that other countries should not interfere, while Afghan women continue to seek equal educational opportunities.
