A report released by the United Nations on Tuesday showed that almost 80% of all women under the age of 30 were excluded from education or work under the Islamic Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The United Nations warns that if Kabul’s rulers continue to exclude girls and women from higher education, the number of qualified women in the labour market will be greatly reduced.
The Taliban has been in power in Afghanistan since August 2021, forbidding women from receiving education from the seventh grade.
In December, Islamists also banned women from training in the field of medicine.
While some schools still offer courses for older girls who violate the order, the United Nations stresses that this is not a sustainable option.
The Taliban also excludes Afghan women from many occupations. However, due to economic necessity, women rely on work according to the UN report, and 24% of Afghan women are currently working or seeking jobs. Many people are forced to work in the informal sector with poor salary.
“The greatest resource in Afghanistan is its women and girls,” said Sima Bahous, executive director of women of the United Nations. “We must stand with them and pursue a country that reflects its rights and all Afghan aspirations.”
