KABUL, Afghanistan — Roza Otunbayeva, the United Nations Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), released a statement on Friday, marking International Day of the Girl with a somber reflection on the ongoing ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan.
The day, established by the UN in 2011 to highlight the rights and challenges faced by girls globally, comes as Afghan girls over 12 continue to be barred from attending school.
“In Afghanistan, we mark this important day with a great deal of sorrow, because it is now 1,120 days since the de facto authorities imposed a ban on educating girls over the age of 12. This is more than three years of lost opportunity – not just for millions of girls, but for families, communities, and the entire country,” Otunbayeva said. “As each day passes, even greater damage is being done to the lives of women and girls. Afghanistan is being taken backwards, not forwards, in its quest for peace, recovery, and prosperity.”
Otunbayeva called on the Taliban to reverse the ban, pledging continued support for Afghan women and girls. “We will not cease to speak up for them, even when others seek to silence them,” she added.
The UN established the International Day of the Girl on October 11 to recognize girls’ rights and to advocate for their needs. The theme for 2024, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” underscores the urgent challenges that girls face worldwide, including climate crises, conflict, poverty, and setbacks in human rights and gender equality.
UNAMA operates under a mandate extended by the UN Security Council, which includes promoting humanitarian assistance, human rights, and gender equality, as well as fostering inclusive governance and economic stability. The mission continues to advocate for Afghanistan’s peace and stability, calling for principled engagement with all stakeholders to support Afghan women and girls.
