The international organization Global Citizen has issued a stark warning in its latest report, stating that the Taliban’s restrictive policies on girls’ education not only violate the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls but also pose a serious threat to the country’s future as a whole.
The report highlights that over 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied access to education — a ban imposed following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, and one that remains in place today.
One of the personal stories featured in the report is that of Roqia Mansoor, a 17-year-old girl from Ghazni province, who continues to pursue her dreams despite mounting barriers and threats.
Roqia is a student of Learn Afghan, a nonprofit initiative that provides clandestine and online education for girls across the country.
“I want to become a lawyer and fight for justice and equality,” she says. “Education is the only path that can save us.”
Global Citizen emphasizes that restrictions such as the ban on education, enforced veiling in public, and censorship of women’s voices and public presence not only violate human rights but also carry deep and long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s development and stability.
With formal education out of reach for millions of girls, the report notes that families and students are turning to informal and underground classes — a dangerous path, but often the only one left.
These girls begin their days with household chores, and in their spare hours, they continue learning via mobile phones, laptops, or in-person secret sessions.
Despite facing power outages, unstable internet, and the risk of Taliban interference, Afghan girls remain determined.
“My dream is that no girl gives up her education out of fear,” Roqia says. “We are the future of this country.”
In conclusion, Global Citizen calls on the international community to stand against the Taliban’s discriminatory policies and support girls’ education in Afghanistan, in order to prevent the complete erasure of an entire generation of Afghan women.
