UN: 92 Percent of Afghans Support Girls’ Education

Photo: © Sputnik / Firooz.M

The UN Women has stated in a new report that the vast majority of Afghans, despite the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, continue to support the right of girls to study.

The report, published on Friday, August 29, is based on a door-to-door survey of more than two thousand Afghan citizens.

Findings show that 92 percent of respondents consider the continuation of girls’ education “important.” Support for girls’ education is widespread in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, 87 percent of men and 95 percent of women, and in urban areas, 95 percent of both men and women, expressed support for girls’ education.

Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, said: “This is the first thing girls tell us. They are thirsty for education and only want the opportunity to learn.”

The report also highlighted the Taliban’s severe restrictions on women’s work in non-governmental organizations, stressing that the ban has deeply affected women’s daily lives. According to a phone survey conducted in July and August 2025, about 97 percent of women said these restrictions have negatively impacted their lives.

More than half of aid organizations also reported that the restrictions have reduced their ability to provide vital services to women and girls.

UN findings further show that three-quarters of women described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad,” and only 41 percent of women were able to leave their homes once a day, compared to 88 percent of men.

Despite these harsh conditions, the report emphasized that 40 percent of Afghan women still remain hopeful for a future where change and equality are possible.