The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan has called on the Taliban authorities to immediately reopen schools and universities to girls, saying restrictions on their education must be lifted.
In a message posted on X on Thursday, September 16, UNICEF said Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from continuing their education beyond the primary level.
The UN agency urged the ruling authorities to remove the restrictions and allow all girls and women to return to schools and universities without further delay.
“Ruling authorities should lift the educational restrictions and allow all girls and women to return to schools and universities immediately,” UNICEF said.
The Taliban have prevented girls from attending secondary schools since 2021 and later barred women from universities. The restrictions have drawn continued criticism from the United Nations, international human rights organizations and governments around the world.
UNICEF has repeatedly highlighted the impact of the education restrictions on Afghan children and the country’s future. The agency has stressed that access to education is essential for children’s development and for Afghanistan’s long-term social and economic progress.
The latest appeal comes as international organizations continue to call for the restoration of girls’ and women’s access to education in Afghanistan. UNICEF’s statement places renewed emphasis on the need for Afghan girls to resume their studies and for women to regain access to higher education.