Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In the grip of Taliban rule, Afghanistan has descended into what the United Nations grimly describes as the “graveyard of girls’ hopes.” The once-promising future for Afghan women and girls has been systematically stifled, with educational opportunities snatched away and dreams shattered under the weight of oppressive restrictions.
Amid the tightening noose of Taliban-imposed limitations, the UN Women’s section has sounded a clarion call of support for Afghan girls, rallying behind their struggle for the fundamental right to education. This rallying cry comes as the world marks the International Day of Girls in ICT, a poignant reminder of the resilience and determination of Afghan girls in the face of adversity.
The International Day of Girls in ICT, observed every fourth Thursday of April, serves as a tribute to the leadership, engagement, and empowerment of women in the realm of Information and Communications Technology. Yet, in Afghanistan, these aspirations are stifled, overshadowed by the Taliban’s draconian dictates.
Since the Taliban’s resurgence on August 15, 2021, universities have shuttered their doors to female students, and the educational pathway for girls has been truncated, halted at the sixth grade. Despite mounting national and international condemnation, the Taliban remains unyielding, enforcing a blanket ban on girls’ education.
The oppression extends beyond the classroom, with women barred from the workforce, further exacerbating the dire state of human and women’s rights in the nation. Despite more than two years passing since the Taliban’s takeover, there has been no indication of a policy shift regarding the reopening of schools for girls beyond the sixth grade.
As the Taliban tightens its grip on power, Afghanistan plunges deeper into a humanitarian abyss. Infrastructure crumbles, essential services falter, and millions teeter on the brink of starvation and disease. Humanitarian organizations grapple with mounting challenges, from security threats to logistical hurdles, as they strive to provide aid to those in need.
The ban on girls’ education perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality, consigning an entire generation of Afghan girls to the shadows of ignorance and deprivation. As the world watches in horror, Afghanistan’s descent into darkness serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to safeguard the rights and dignity of all its citizens, especially its most vulnerable.
