As the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the United Nations has reiterated the need for equal opportunities for women and girls in all scientific and technical fields.
However, this call comes against the backdrop of over 1,000 days of educational deprivation for women and girls in Afghanistan.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, UNESCO, the UN’s educational, scientific, and cultural organisation, highlighted that only one-third of the world’s scientists are women and that many girls face discouragement in pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, designated by the UN General Assembly, aims to promote and strengthen female participation in STEM education and careers.
While the UN continues to advocate for increased access to scientific fields for women, millions of Afghan girls and women remain barred from education beyond the sixth grade, including higher education at universities.
On this occasion, the ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan has reached 1,242 days, while the prohibition on women’s university education has lasted 782 days.
Despite widespread domestic and international condemnation, the Taliban continue to uphold their restrictions on female education, claiming that the current situation in Afghanistan is unsuitable for reopening schools and universities to women and girls.
The prolonged education ban has drawn global criticism, with rights organisations warning of its devastating impact on Afghanistan’s social and economic future. However, efforts to reverse these policies have so far yielded no results.
