Afghanistan Peace CampaignAmnesty International, in a statement, has said that the “Taliban” must cease using cynical excuses to advance their discriminatory agendas.
Amnesty International and UNAMA have said, concurrent with the start of the new academic year in Afghanistan, that the denial of education to girls in the country is indefensible and a violation of fundamental educational rights.
The organization added, “Today is the start of the new school year in Afghanistan but girls above grade six are banned from education. This is unjustifiable and in violation of fundamental human rights to education. The Taliban must allow girls of all ages to attend school and stop using cynical pretexts to further its discriminatory agenda.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office, in response to the continued closure of school doors, has called education essential for peace and prosperity, urging the current authorities of the country to end this prohibition.
UNAMA said: “As Afghanistan’s new school year begins, it is now more than 900 days since girls aged 12+ have been barred from attending school & university. UNAMA urges the de facto authorities to end this unjustifiable and damaging ban. Education for all is essential for peace & prosperity.”
Concurrently, the United States Department of State has deemed respect for the rights of Afghan women and girls vital for the continuation of the United States’ efforts in Afghanistan.
Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State said: “We have been clear that girls should have never been blocked from going to school in the first place, advancing respect for the rights of Afghan women and girls is critical to US efforts in Afghanistan.”
“Because I was heartbroken at home, I came to a sewing course. If schools were open for girls, I would have graduated last year,” Sonya, a tenth-grade student, told TOLOnews.
“In these three years, the international community has only reacted on paper, and Afghan girls no longer trust these theatrical reactions of the international community and are not reassured by them. The Taliban must respect and provide the right to education for girls for the growth and development of Afghanistan,” Lamia Shirzai, a women’s rights activist, told TOLOnews.
The lack of access to education for girls beyond the sixth grade has faced domestic and international reactions for over two years; however, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that the prohibition on girls beyond the sixth grade attending schools is not permanent.