World Education Day: UN rapporteur says millions of Afghan girls and women denied education
A UN human rights expert warned that barring Afghan girls and women from education is damaging millions of lives and undermining Afghanistan’s long-term stability.
Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, said the denial of education to girls and women affects not only individuals but the country’s future.
Writing on X on Saturday, January 24, Bennett said all young people must have access to quality education and higher learning, calling the restrictions a serious human rights violation.
His remarks came on the International Day of Education, as UNESCO and UNICEF reaffirmed that education is a fundamental human right and the foundation of peace and opportunity.
The agencies said Afghanistan is the only country where secondary and higher education is banned for girls, leaving 2.2 million adolescent girls excluded from schooling.
UNESCO and UNICEF also warned of a wider learning crisis, saying 93% of Afghanistan children still lack basic reading skills by the end of primary school.
They said research shows students perform better in schools with university-educated teachers, especially female teachers, who are linked to stronger learning outcomes.
UNESCO official Soohyun Kim said denying girls education forces the entire nation to pay the price, while UNICEF stressed Afghanistan urgently needs educated women professionals.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have barred girls from secondary schools and universities, a policy UN officials say risks creating a lost generation.
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