International Day of the Girl; UNAMA: Taliban Policies Are Inflicting Greater Harm on the Lives of Girls
Bayan News – Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kabul, has warned that if the Taliban do not change their policies, more harm will be inflicted on the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Marking the International Day of the Girl, Otunbayeva issued a statement on Friday (October 11), saying: “In Afghanistan, we commemorate this day with great sorrow, as it has been exactly 1,120 days since the ruling authorities (the Taliban) imposed a ban on education for girls over the age of twelve.”
In her message, Otunbayeva emphasized that the lost opportunities over the past three years have not only affected millions of girls but also their families, communities, and the country as a whole. She added, “With each passing day, more damage is being done to the lives of women and girls. Instead of progressing towards peace, recovery, and prosperity, Afghanistan is being dragged backward.”
She urged the Taliban to change their policies toward women and girls in Afghanistan and firmly stated, “I also promise the women and girls of Afghanistan that we will not stop defending your rights, even if others seek to silence you.”
The United Nations General Assembly designated October 11 as the International Day of the Girl in 2011 to promote girls’ rights.
This year, the global theme is “Girls’ Vision for the Future.” In Afghanistan, this day comes at a time when, over the past three years, more than one million girls across the country have been deprived of access to education.
