UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

09/18/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/18/2021 06:56

Afghanistan - UNESCO Director-General expresses deep concern over the exclusion of girls from school reopening

Upon her arrival in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay expressed her deep concern over the announcement made in Afghanistan to gradually reopen secondary schools for boys and their male teachers only, leaving girls and women behind. Should this ban be maintained, it would constitute an important violation for the fundamental right to education for girls and women. UNESCO calls on those responsible for this announcement to clarify the situation and reopen schools for all Afghan students, boys and girls alike.