A Thousand Days of Darkness: Afghan Girls Lost Three Billion Hours of Education

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, described this day on Thursday (June 13) as a "tragic" and concerning turning point.

Ms. Russell stated that the systematic deprivation of education for 1.5 million girls by the Taliban is not only a blatant violation of their right to education but also, according to her, has led to reduced opportunities and worsened mental health conditions for the girls.

She emphasized that children's rights, especially those of girls, should not be held hostage to politics.

According to Russell, this ban, in addition to negatively affecting the girls' mental health, will also exacerbate humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.

In a statement, UNICEF said: "Education does not just create opportunities. It protects girls from early marriage, malnutrition, and other health issues."

Despite the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan, UNICEF, in collaboration with other aid organizations, has provided educational opportunities for nearly three million children in the country.

The UNICEF Executive Director stated: "Together with our partners, we are keeping 2.7 million children in primary education, establishing community-based education classes for 600,000 children, two-thirds of whom are girls, and doing everything we can to maintain educational infrastructure."

UNICEF has once again called on the Taliban to reopen schools above the sixth grade and universities for girls in Afghanistan.

Russell also addressed the international community, emphasizing that Afghan girls need global support more than ever.

It has been 1,000 days since the Taliban first issued the order banning education for girls above the sixth grade, and about 600 days since universities were closed to girls.