Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

UNICEF urges Taliban to allow girls return to school

Marking 1,000 days since girls in Afghanistan were banned from secondary school, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF has urged the Taliban to allow girls to go back to school.

“For 1.5 million girls, this systematic exclusion is not only a blatant violation of their right to education, but also results in dwindling opportunities and deteriorating mental health,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement emphasised the far-reaching consequences of the ban, extending beyond the immediate loss of education.

“It exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis and has serious ramifications for Afghanistan’s economy and development trajectory,” the statement added.

Russell appealed for the return of girls to schools, pointing to the fact that no country could move forward when half its population was left behind.

“I urge the de facto authorities to allow all children to resume learning immediately. And I urge the international community to remain engaged and support these girls, who need us more than ever.”

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has banned girls and women from studying beyond primary school.

However, in some parts of the country, women and girls still attend religious schools, as well as midwifery and nursing schools.

The Taliban government is not recognised internationally.

You May Also Like

Africa

Mali is among the countries currently suffering extreme heat with some areas hit by a temperature of 48,5°C, has recorded more than 100 deaths,...

Africa

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), energy giant, has decided to sell its Nigerian onshore oil and gas assets to Renaissance Oil, an indigenous company...

Africa

The leader of the coalition group of all ‘jihadist’ groups taking shelter in their hideouts along the Saharan countries ‘Jama’at Nusratil islam Wal Muslimeen’...

Africa

Photo: Nigeria’s first private and Africa’s largest petroleum refinery begins production and expected to save Nigeria from dependence on imports. Photo from Dangote Group...