UK Envoy Warns Depriving Girls of Education Harms Afghanistan's Future

Richard Lindsay, the UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated that depriving women and girls of education harms the country's future and hinders the progress of Afghan communities.

Lindsay made the comments on X on Monday as the new school year began in Afghanistan, marking nearly five years since the Taliban banned girls from secondary education in March 2022. "As the school year begins in Afghanistan, millions of girls are once again deprived of the right to education," he wrote, adding that "education must be accessible to all."

The Taliban have prohibited girls from continuing education beyond sixth grade, as well as from attending university and pursuing medical education, according to Amu TV. Hasht-e Subh and Khaama Press reported that millions of girls remain denied access to school and university under these ongoing restrictions.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, had previously expressed similar concerns about girls above sixth grade being prevented from attending school, according to Hasht-e Subh and Khaama Press.

Lindsay's remarks came on the sidelines of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, where UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls Harriet Harman discussed the issue with Afghan civil society representatives, per Amu TV.