MONITORING (SW) – The United Nations Security Council has expressed deep concern over a decision by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to deny girls access to high school education and called on the group to reopen schools for female students without delay.
“The members of the Security Council … reaffirmed the right to education for all Afghans, including girls,” a statement from the United Nations on Sunday said.
The United States abruptly cancelled meetings with the Taliban in Doha that were set to address key economic issues because of the decision, U.S. officials said on Friday.
The Security Council asked Deborah Lyons, the U.N. Special Representative for Afghanistan, to engage with relevant Afghan authorities and stakeholders on the issue and report back on progress.
After the Islamic Emirate administration called against the opening of educational institutes to girls beyond 6th grade on Wednesday, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said the US rejects the Taliban’s decision.
Antony Blinken On Wednesday (local time), he took to Twitter to express his displeasure with the new Afghan administration’s decision. While speaking about the significance of education, Blinken said, “Education is a human right.”
The US Secretary of State said the US dismisses the Taliban’s justifications for abandoning their promise to the Afghan people that all Afghans would be free to return to school at all levels today, reported the Republic World.
After months of waiting for all schools to reopen to girls across the country, the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Emirate announced last week that the gates of schools for female students above the sixth grade will remain closed until further notice.
Former President Hamid Karzai wrote on Twitter that the Islamic Emirate should not allow the plan of foreigners who want Afghanistan to be always in need and subordinate to others.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also expressed regret over the Islamic Emirate’s announcement banning girls from returning to school.
The Amnesty International has expressed concern over the Ministry of Education’s decision, saying that the international community must take immediate action to provide education for girls in Afghanistan.
“I had one hope for today: that Afghan girls walking to school would not be sent back home. But the Taliban did not keep their promise. They will keep finding excuses to stop girls from learning – because they are afraid of educated girls and empowered women. #LetAfghanGirlsLearn”, tweeted the Noble laureate Malala Yosufzai.
The Islamic Emirate authorities have cited consultations for Sharia-compliant dress code for girls as the reason behind not reopening their schools across the country.
The Bakhtar state news agency reported that the Ministry of Education had issued a statement saying that all girls’ schools (secondary and high schools) would be closed until the ministry’s next order.
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