For millions of girls in Afghanistan, it has now been four years since the de facto authorities imposed a ban on secondary education, part of a broader roll-back of women’s rights since the Taliban regained control of Kabul. Many girls, including Fatima Amiri, have been directly affected by violence and threats aimed at keeping them from school. In 2022, a suicide bombing in her classroom killed over 50 of her classmates and left her with life-changing injuries. Now living abroad, Amiri has become an education advocate, speaking out for Afghan girls who remain barred from continuing their studies and emphasizing that education is a fundamental right that has been denied to them.
Despite the ban, public opinion remains overwhelmingly supportive of girls’ education. UN Women reports that over nine in ten Afghans favor secondary education for girls. The situation is further complicated by recent natural disasters, including a major earthquake, and restrictions on female aid workers, making humanitarian assistance more difficult. UN agencies and partners, including Education Cannot Wait (ECW), continue to call for the reopening of schools and the restoration of education for all girls in Afghanistan. Currently, more than 2.2 million Afghan girls are barred from secondary education, and up to seven million children are out of school due to the ban and other constraints.
Amiri shared her testimony at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, describing the ongoing hardships faced by girls and women in Afghanistan. She stressed that while advocacy and speaking out are important, they are not enough and that urgent actions are needed to provide education opportunities. Amiri highlighted that girls are suffering emotionally and mentally due to the lack of access to education, describing how the ban has left many feeling lost and hopeless.
Despite these challenges, Afghan girls continue to demonstrate resilience and determination. Amiri reports that many are striving to learn in secret, using online resources, books, and informal guidance where possible. She is actively teaching some of these girls, emphasizing their motivation and drive to continue learning despite limited internet access and few educational opportunities. The story of Amiri and the girls she supports illustrates both the severity of the ongoing crisis and the determination of Afghan girls to pursue their education against enormous odds.
