The United Nations said Thursday that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have “deliberately barred” 1.4 million girls from school since they seized power three years ago, putting the future of an entire generation at risk.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, released a new report as Afghanistan's de facto leaders marked the third anniversary of the government this week in the poverty-stricken South Asian nation.
The Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021, have imposed sweeping restrictions on girls' access to education and public life, making Afghanistan the only country in the world that bars girls aged 12 and above from education.
“As a result of the ban imposed by de facto authorities, at least 1.4 million girls have been intentionally denied access to secondary education since 2021,” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director-general, said in a statement.
“This is an increase of 300,000 since UNESCO’s previous count in April 2023 – with more girls reaching the age of 12 each year,” it said. The UN and global human rights groups have denounced the ban as “gender apartheid” and called for its immediate overturn.
The Taliban government, which is not officially recognized by any country, did not immediately respond to UNESCO's findings and demands to lift the ban on education for girls. (ps/you)
