Amnesty International Calls On Taliban To Reopen Girls’ Secondary Schools

Amnesty International has called on the Taliban to reopen secondary schools for girls, highlighting that Afghan girls have been deprived of their education rights due to the Taliban’s “discriminatory and unjust policies,” as reported by Afghanistan-based Khaama Press. Amnesty emphasized that these policies violate international laws. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they reopened schools that had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but prohibited girls from attending classes beyond sixth grade.

On June 14, Amnesty International posted on X, stating, “For 1000 days, Afghan girls have been deprived of their right to education, locked out of their schools due to the discriminatory and unjust Taliban policies violating international law. The Taliban must immediately re-open all secondary schools to girls.”

Despite more than two and a half years passing, the Taliban has yet to make any new statements about reopening schools for girls above sixth grade. Amnesty’s call comes amidst a severe humanitarian crisis and significant human rights issues in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s policies have suppressed women’s rights, including education and employment.

In 2022, the Taliban issued a decree banning women from working in aid agencies and domestic organizations and imposed restrictions on their free movement, further limiting their opportunities. Media restrictions have worsened the situation, making it difficult for people to stay informed and for the international community to grasp the full extent of the crisis, as reported by Khaama Press.

In May, United Nations officials reiterated concerns about the plight of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. During a meeting in New York titled “Women, Youth Must Have Greater Participation in Peacebuilding Efforts,” UN officials highlighted the prohibition of girls from attending universities and secondary schools, according to TOLO News. Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN’s Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, described the situation for Afghan women as a lost cause. “Ultimately, it comes down to a simple vision — of overcoming obstacles that deny the full contribution of women,” DiCarlo said.

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), noted, “1.1 million girls are without schooling since the 2021 ban in Afghanistan.”