UNESCO feared number of girls deprived of education could reach 4 million by 2030 if the restrictions remain in place.
UNITED NATIONS: UNESCO has published a report on the continuing restrictions on girls’ education in Afghanistan, saying about 2.4 million girls have been deprived of secondary education since the Taliban returned to power.
The United Nations agency said the number of Afghan girls denied access to secondary education has increased by about 200,000 from last year.
UNESCO warned that if the restrictions remain in place, the number of girls deprived of education could reach 4 million by 2030. It said Afghan girls and women have a fundamental human right to education.
The agency said the ban on girls’ education is also having serious consequences for Afghanistan’s economy. More than 90% of 10-year-old children in Afghanistan are unable to read a simple text, according to the report.
UNESCO called for the immediate restoration of girls’ right to education in Afghanistan and condemned discrimination against Afghan women and girls.
Afghan girls were barred from attending secondary schools in March 2022 after the Taliban returned to power. Universities were also closed to female students later that year.
More read, U.S announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO
Earlier, The US government accuses UNESCO of promoting anti-Israel sentiments and has cited this as a reason for its withdrawal.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that continuing membership in UNESCO, an organization related to education, science, and culture, is not in America’s national interest.
The U.S. claims that UNESCO fosters policies that promote social and cultural division. The organization also advocates for an ideological agenda that contradicts America’s “America First” foreign policy.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that UNESCO’s recognition of a Palestinian state is a serious issue that opposes U.S. policy and has contributed to anti-Israel sentiments within the organization.
