The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, stated that 1,607 days have passed since girls above the age of 12 were barred from attending school.
In a message posted today (Wednesday, Feb 11) on its X account, the mission wrote that more than four years of opportunity have been lost and that without women and girls, the future is bleak.
UNAMA once again called on the de facto authorities to lift the ban on girls’ education.
The UN office in Afghanistan also stated that equality in science is fundamental to human progress, yet for more than four years, Afghan women and girls have been denied access to education and employment.
A statement from the organization noted that this deprivation not only sidelines women and girls but also constitutes a serious obstacle to the country’s development and long-term prosperity.
It is worth noting that after returning to power, the current authorities first barred girls above sixth grade from attending school. The group later closed universities and medical institutes to women and girls as well.
Over the past four years, despite global calls to respect the rights of women and girls, the current authorities have intensified their restrictions.
These actions have left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education.
In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses; from being examined by male doctors; from traveling without a male guardian (mahram); and from working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan.
