KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations warned on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science that the Taliban’s ban on women and girls’ access to education and employment continues to pose a major obstacle to Afghanistan’s development and long-term prosperity.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, UN Afghanistan said it has been more than four years since Afghan women and girls have been barred from schools and workplaces.
“This exclusion is not only a marginalization, but also a significant obstacle to the country’s development and longer-term prosperity,” the statement said. It added that equality in science is essential for human progress and for building a future where technology and artificial intelligence support global prosperity.
Meanwhile, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) marked the day with “sorrow,” noting that millions of Afghan girls remain unable to return to school. “1,607 days since girls over 12 were banned from school,” the mission said, warning that more than four years of lost opportunities have created a bleak future without women and girls participating in key sectors.
UNAMA reiterated its call for the Taliban to lift the bans and allow women and girls to learn and work freely.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban first barred girls from secondary schools and later expanded restrictions to universities, most employment sectors, public spaces, gyms, long-distance travel without a male guardian, and participation in public and civic life.
UN experts, international rights groups, and activists have described the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women as “gender apartheid,” an institutionalized system that subjugates women solely because of their gender. Despite international pressure, including from Muslim-majority countries and global organizations, the Taliban have refused to reverse the restrictions, leaving millions uncertain about their future.
The UN and rights groups emphasize that Afghanistan’s development and prosperity are closely tied to women’s participation in education, work, and public life. Restricting these opportunities not only violates basic human rights but also hampers economic growth, innovation, and the country’s ability to recover from decades of conflict.
Observed annually on February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights the importance of women’s contributions to scientific research, technology, and sustainable development. In Afghanistan, the ongoing restrictions demonstrate the urgent need for action to ensure that women and girls are no longer denied access to education and employment, which are essential for the country’s progress and long-term stability.
