US State Dept advocates for girls’ education in Afghanistan

The US State Department consistently promotes girls’ education in all engagement with Afghanistan’s current de facto administration.

During a Tuesday press conference, Ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice Beth van Schaack strongly condemned the Taliban’s denial of girls’ education. She described this as an egregious act that deprives young girls of autonomy, public engagement, and the opportunity to contribute to societal progress.

“When it comes to girls’ education, indeed, this is one of the most unconscionable acts of the Taliban, to deny young girls the ability to plan their life paths, to operate in public, to have – to contribute to the growth and vibrancy of that particular society,” she said.

“And so in all of our engagements there, we are constantly pushing to have some of those restrictions be relaxed. We have a special envoy dedicated to women and girls and their plight within Afghanistan, and she is constantly engaging with officials to improve the situation and life for girls and women,” she added.

Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, they swiftly prohibited girls and women from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade and entering universities and public spaces. Despite widespread condemnation from international bodies and domestic groups, the Taliban have persisted in tightening their grip on women’s rights, further escalating the restrictions.

This defiance highlights the urgent need for continued global pressure to counteract the regressive policies and protect the fundamental rights of Afghan women.

The Taliban administration has claimed that these decisions align with Islamic Sharia law and called on the global community to refrain from intervening in Afghanistan’s internal matters.

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