Robert Duxon, the Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy for Afghanistan, has described the ban on girls’ education in health institutes as another violation of the rights of girls and women to education, expressing concern about this decision.
In response to the interim government’s decision, Robert Duxon wrote on his X account: “I am deeply concerned by recent reports that the current government is banning health education for women in Afghanistan.”
This comes as the Ministry of Public Health of the interim government has instructed health institutes to suspend classes for girls until further notice.
Officials from the health institutes have stated that this directive was announced verbally during a meeting on Monday, December 3rd.
Additionally, some female students in Herat province have told the media outlet Goharshad that they went to the institutes but were not allowed to enter.
In several other provinces, female students have also been told not to attend health institutes until the situation is clarified.
The British Embassy Chargé d’Affaires emphasized: “This is yet another violation of women’s rights to education and restricts greater access to healthcare for Afghan women and children.”
It is noteworthy that despite the ban on girls attending universities, health institutes had remained open to them. In these institutes, girls were primarily trained in medical fields, including midwifery and nursing.
Meanwhile, the interim government has prohibited girls from attending school and university for over three years.
The current government’s restrictions have resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of education.
In addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.
