The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed concern over the ongoing ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan. It has urged the interim government to put an immediate end to this “blatant violation” of women’s and girls’ rights.
In a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, OCHA stated that the ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade, under the current administration, has now entered its third year.
OCHA emphasized that over the past three years, 1.5 million teenage girls have been deprived of their right to education beyond sixth grade.
Criticism and calls to lift this ban are growing as the new academic year in Afghanistan approaches. However, it remains unclear whether the interim government will allow girls to return to schools and universities in the upcoming school year.
OCHA also published a statement from the organization Education Cannot Wait, stressing the urgent need to advocate for girls’ and women’s right to education under the current administration.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the interim government has barred girls above sixth grade from attending school and later closed universities to them. In its latest move, it has also prohibited girls from studying at medical institutes, effectively cutting them off entirely from formal education.
As a result, millions of female students have been denied access to education.
In addition to this, women and girls have been banned from entering gyms, restaurants, public bathhouses, receiving medical check-ups from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in local and international NGOs, including UN offices in Afghanistan.
