KABUL, Afghanistan — The European Union has called education for all Afghans essential to the country’s long-term resilience and prosperity, emphasizing the critical role of women and girls in shaping Afghanistan’s future.
In a statement posted on X, the EU delegation in Afghanistan said, “Educated women, with their vital skills and knowledge, are the architects of a stronger, more stable and economically independent country.” The bloc reaffirmed its support for the right of Afghan girls and women to education.
“The EU supports their rights to education,” the delegation wrote.
The statement came as UNICEF reported that with the start of a new academic year in Afghanistan, nearly 400,000 more girls are now out of school, raising the total number of girls denied education to approximately 2.2 million.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have barred girls from attending school beyond grade six. The policy has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from Muslim-majority countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Human rights groups and education advocates warn that the prolonged ban on girls’ education threatens to deepen poverty, stall development, and isolate Afghanistan from the global community.
