On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the United Nations (UN) children’s agency issued an urgent appeal to Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, urging them to lift the ongoing ban on girls’ education. The call comes as the agency stresses the critical importance of education in securing a better future for millions of Afghan girls who have been denied this fundamental right since the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021.
The UN agency expressed deep concern over the impact of the ban, highlighting that an entire generation of girls is being deprived of the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment of education. With over two years of restrictions in place, the organization warned that the future of these young girls is at risk, with lasting consequences not only for their individual futures but for the country’s development as a whole.
The Taliban’s decision to prevent girls from attending secondary school has drawn widespread international condemnation, with human rights groups, governments, and UN bodies all calling for the immediate reversal of the policy. According to the UN agency, education is a fundamental human right that must be accessible to all children, regardless of gender, and its denial to Afghan girls will have long-term negative effects on their health, safety, and economic opportunities.
In its statement, the UN children’s agency emphasized that education is key to empowering girls, offering them the tools to shape their own futures and contribute meaningfully to society. The agency warned that without access to education, the potential of Afghan girls remains untapped, undermining efforts to build a more prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan.
The appeal to the Taliban comes as the international community continues to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, where girls’ education has become a symbol of broader human rights struggles under the current regime. The UN has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Afghan people, particularly girls, in their quest for education, and has called on the Taliban to reconsider its policies and allow young girls to return to school without further delay.
As the global community waits for a response, the future of millions of girls in Afghanistan remains uncertain, and the call for the lifting of the ban grows louder with each passing day.
