Education ban puts Afghan girls at risk of early marriage: UNICEF Chief

The head of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, has warned that Afghan girls deprived of education and their rights face limited prospects beyond early marriage.

In a message shared on Wednesday on the social media platform X, Russell wrote that the voices of Afghan women are being silenced, and their dreams denied.

Her message stated, “Those excluded from schools are confined to their homes and stripped of their rights, with little future beyond early marriage.”

Russell emphasized that no country can progress without the participation of half its population.

She called on the global community to raise its voice in support of Afghan women and girls, urging unified advocacy for their rights and education.

The ban on girls’ education above sixth grade and in universities has severely limited Afghan women’s job and economic opportunities, negatively impacting their lives by suppressing their aspirations and potential.

According to a recent UN survey, Taliban policies have altered family attitudes toward girls’ education in Afghanistan, with fears of the Taliban and strengthened patriarchal norms leading to reduced support for girls’ education.

The survey also confirms that early marriages have increased due to the education ban, leaving Afghan girls with few life options and increasing vulnerability.

The current restrictions on girls’ education and women’s rights highlight a deepening crisis for Afghan society, one that stifles progress and empowerment.

Addressing these issues through sustained global advocacy and humanitarian efforts remains critical to ensure a brighter future for Afghan girls and women.

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