UNICEF Urges Taliban to Allow Girls Back to School

As Afghanistan marks 1,000 days since the Taliban banned girls from attending secondary schools, UNICEF is calling on the Taliban to reverse this decision and allow girls to return to school.

In a statement released on Thursday, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the detrimental impact of the ban on 1.5 million Afghan girls.

“For 1.5 million girls, this systematic exclusion is not only a blatant violation of their right to education but also results in dwindling opportunities and deteriorating mental health,” Russell stated.

The statement emphasized that the repercussions of the ban extend beyond the immediate loss of education.

It exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis and has severe implications for Afghanistan's economy and development trajectory.

Russell noted, "This ban worsens the existing humanitarian crisis and has serious implications for Afghanistan's economic and developmental future."

Russell urged the Taliban to reinstate educational access for girls, underscoring the broader societal impact. "

Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban has prohibited girls and women from studying beyond primary school.

However, in some parts of the country, women and girls still attend religious schools, as well as midwifery and nursing schools.Response: