Norway’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Tine Mørch Smith, expressed criticism toward the closure of girls’ school above grade six in Afghanistan.
She said that Afghanistan is the only country where girls can’t go to school.
“One year after the Taliban takeover the situation for women and girls has deteriorated on a shocking scale … one grim example, is that Afghanistan is now the only nation in the world that forbids girls’ education. Almost one year has passed since Taliban banned teenage girls from schools,” she told a press conference.
Addressing the same press conference, the human rights activist Najiba Sanjar expressed concerns over deprivation of Afghan girls from their basic rights.
“The schools are closed, women are unemployed, family violence and femicide have increased. Fifty-seven percent of Afghan women are married before the age of 19, women-led organizations and human rights organization are shut down and others continue to face hundreds of restrictions every day,” Sanjar said.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Minister, Qalindar Ibad that the said Islamic Emarat is not against the education of girls and these schools will not be closed for ever.
“There is a mechanism underway regarding the girls’ school. The Islamic Emirate has never issued a decisive order that the schools will not be reopened,” Ibad said.
This comes as students expressed frustration, saying that they have been faded up with the promises.
“All of the summits held by the UN are at the level of tweets and there are no practical steps in this regard,” said Samina, a student.
“I have three daughters. They are in grades 10, 11 and 12. They are now suffering from mental pressure and when I see them, it affects me as well,” said Hamira, a student.
Earlier, the acting education minister Noorullah Munir claimed that people did not want their girls to attend school in the current situation.
