Amidst the stringent restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban, TOLO news reports that the United Nations has described the nation as a “graveyard of girls’ hopes.” Despite the ban, the UN Women’s section reaffirms its commitment to supporting Afghan girls in their fight for education. On the occasion of the International Day of Girls in ICT on Thursday, the UN Women’s section underscores the resilience of Afghan girls in confronting educational barriers.
According to TOLOnews, the International Day of Girls in ICT is observed every year on the fourth Thursday of April to celebrate the leadership, participation, and empowerment of women in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Since regaining control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the Taliban have shuttered universities to female students and imposed restrictions preventing them from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Despite widespread national and international condemnation, the Taliban persist in enforcing these bans on girls’ education.
Furthermore, the Taliban have also instituted a ban on women working, exacerbating the already dire situation concerning human and women’s rights in the nation.
For over two and a half years, the Taliban has remained silent on the possibility of reopening schools for girls beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan. As the Taliban consolidates its authority in the country, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly.
With infrastructure in disrepair and vital services disrupted, millions of Afghans face the looming threats of starvation and disease. Humanitarian groups grapple with delivering aid amid security risks and logistical hurdles.
Since the Taliban seized control, the prohibition on girls attending school has deprived an entire generation of education, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.