Dan Brown, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy for Afghanistan, has announced that approximately 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan are deprived of access to education.
Mr. Brown stated in a press release that young boys and girls around the world are preparing to return to classrooms and are pursuing their big dreams for the future; however, in Afghanistan’s classrooms, there are 1.4 million empty seats—seats intended for the girls and young women of this country.
The Deputy Chief of Mission emphasized solidarity with all Afghan parents who believe in the vital necessity of education for the future of their children and their country.
The statement noted that the United States will never cease its efforts to reopen schools for girls and to provide educational opportunities for both boys and girls in Afghanistan so they can learn the skills their country needs for progress.
He stated that education is not only a universal human right but also the foundation of peace and prosperity for the future of communities. He added that education is the only way to achieve economic growth, provide adequate healthcare services to all citizens, and ensure long-term stability throughout Afghanistan.
These remarks come as the interim government has barred girls above the sixth grade from attending school and subsequently prohibited female university students from attending public and private universities as well as private educational institutions.
It should be noted that the current government’s restrictions have left millions of schoolgirls without education. The United Nations and the international community have repeatedly called for the lifting of bans on women’s rights to education and work in Afghanistan over the past three years; however, the interim government has so far ignored these demands.
Additionally, 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 in UN offices in Afghanistan.
Recently, the new law on “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” has even labeled women’s voices as “awrah.”
The UN Women’s section had previously stated that the restrictions on women have had a detrimental impact on their lives in Afghanistan.
