The Fourth School Year Begins Without Millions of Afghan Girls in Schools

As the new school year in Afghanistan began on March 21, millions of Afghan teenage girls have been deprived of education for the fourth consecutive year. Following the Taliban's return to power, education for girls over the age of 12 has been banned. Estimates indicate that this ban has transformed the lives of approximately 2.2 million Afghan girls, depriving them of education, future opportunities, and participation in public life. Meanwhile, cases of forced, early, and child marriage in Afghanistan have significantly increased. According to the United Nations, child marriage has risen by about 25% since the Taliban's return. On the other hand, the deprivation of education and lack of professional prospects have led to an increase in suicide cases among Afghan women and girls, making Afghanistan one of the few countries in the world where the number of suicides among women has surpassed that of men. UNICEF has called on the Taliban to immediately lift the ban on girls' education. Among these students, 'Khaleda,' who was in the ninth grade when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and is now 18 years old, told Radio Azadi, the Afghan section of Radio Free Europe, 'This ban has had a huge impact on my life. Previously, all my time was spent studying, but now my time passes aimlessly.' Another Afghan teenage girl, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of punishment, told Radio Azadi, 'The lack of access to education threatens not only our future but also the progress and development of the country. We have the right to be educated, to progress, and to have a bright future.' The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) emphasized in a statement released at the beginning of the school year in Afghanistan that the consequences of this ban will last for generations. UNICEF warned, 'The ban on girls' education seriously harms the health system, economy, and future of the country. With a decrease in the number of educated girls, the risk of child marriage also increases, which will have negative effects on their health and well-being.' UNICEF also warned that if this ban continues until 2030, more than 4 million Afghan girls will be deprived of education. In response to this situation, Afghan women's rights activists and senior UN officials have described the Taliban's policies towards women and girls as a form of 'gender apartheid' and have called for increased pressure from the international community to end this ban. Although no country has recognized the Taliban government so far and the group is under international sanctions, some countries, including those in the West, are increasingly cooperating with them on issues such as trade, security, and migration. Pashtana Dorani, a prominent education activist in Afghanistan who is now in exile, stated, 'The Taliban travel freely, give interviews, have bank accounts, and their families live abroad; yet they have deprived Afghan women of education.' She added, 'The international community should be asked whether they truly want girls' schools to reopen in Afghanistan or not.'