UNAMA Again Calls for Access to Education for Afghan Women and Girls

Photo: UNAMAnews/X

On the occasion of International Literacy Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) emphasized the necessity of universal access to education, especially for women and girls.

The mission wrote today, Monday (September 8), on its X page quoting Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan: “Books are not only a source of knowledge, but also a path to sustainable well-being.”

In this message, while honoring Afghanistan’s rich literary heritage, UNAMA called for inclusive and equal access to education for all citizens, especially women and girls.

This comes as four years have passed since the closure of schools above grade six and the deprivation of girls from universities under Taliban rule. The group has so far taken no steps to reopen them.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, also recently, in response to a question about including girls’ education above grade six in the National Development Strategy, described it as “a minor issue.”

It is worth mentioning that International Literacy Day has been designated by UNESCO since 1967 and is commemorated annually on September 8.