2.2 Million Afghan Girls Excluded from Secondary Education as New School Year Begins

As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, over 2.2 million girls remain barred from secondary education due to the Taliban's ongoing ban that has lasted for nearly four years. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has warned that the consequences of this educational exclusion are catastrophic, threatening not only the future of Afghan girls but also the nation's health and economy. She highlighted the potential for increased maternal and infant mortality rates due to a shortage of female healthcare professionals, estimating that this ban could lead to an additional 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. Despite some private educational initiatives offering limited courses for girls, these cannot replace formal schooling. The international community, including Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, has called for the immediate lifting of this ban, emphasizing that gender-based oppression and educational denial violate fundamental rights. The Taliban's refusal to change their stance continues to spark global concern over the future of Afghanistan's girls and the country's overall development.