UN Experts Urge the Taliban to Lift the Ban on Girls' Education in Medical Institutes

According to a statement issued by these experts on Monday (December 9), if implemented, the ban would be an unjustifiable blow to the health, dignity, and future of women and girls in Afghanistan. They have described this action as a cause of unnecessary suffering, illness, and potential death for Afghan women and children, labeling it as "femicide."

According to these experts, Afghanistan is facing a healthcare crisis for mothers and children, with high maternal and infant mortality rates. They have warned that if the ban on girls' education in medical institutes is enforced, this crisis will be exacerbated, with profound and long-lasting effects.

The United Nations experts have called on the international community not to remain indifferent to the ongoing repression of the rights of women and girls by the Taliban, stating: "The world must stand in solidarity and action with the women and girls of Afghanistan to ensure that their fundamental rights are preserved and that the Taliban are held accountable for their actions."

This directive comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing a shortage of healthcare personnel in various sectors.

It is worth noting that, according to reports, the Taliban's Ministry of Public Health issued a directive last Monday banning girls from studying in medical institutes until further notice. This decision comes amid an ongoing shortage of healthcare personnel in the country.

Additionally, the Taliban had previously banned the education and training of girls in secondary and high schools, as well as in universities.