Marking International Education Day, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, called attention to the plight of millions of Afghan girls and women barred from education under Taliban rule.
In a statement posted on social media, Bennett condemned the Taliban’s ban on female education as a “grave human rights violation,” noting that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world that explicitly denies girls access to schooling.
“This must end,” Bennett said, urging the Taliban to lift restrictions that have kept Afghan girls above the sixth grade out of classrooms since their return to power in 2021.
The ban, part of a broader crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan, has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, including human rights organizations and governments. Observers warn that the exclusion of women and girls from education jeopardizes the country’s future and deepens its isolation on the global stage.
International Education Day, celebrated annually on January 24, serves as a reminder of the fundamental role education plays in achieving peace, equality, and development worldwide. Bennett’s remarks echo growing calls for urgent action to address the educational crisis in Afghanistan and restore access to learning for all.
