The new academic year is starting… with not a single girl in the classrooms

The Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women has informed us:

“The Taliban officially announced the new academic year on the first day of the year 1403 corresponding to March 20, 2024. This year, like the last two years, the bell for the start of the new school year in Afghanistan was rung without the presence of girls. They stood despondently behind the school gates and shed tears.

“When 15-year-oldAhrar, older brother of Mahla happily went to his school in Kabul in the morning to start the first day of his eighth grade, 13-year-old Mahla wished with a broken heart and childishly that she would be born a boy like her brother. And like him, she could go to school and her gender did not prevent her from studying! It is not only Mahla whose bright future was stolen by the Taliban, but their number reaches millions.

“According to UNICEF, this year, 330,000 girls who have completed sixth grade will no longer be allowed to continue their education, joining the millions of girls who have already been denied access to school and higher education by the Taliban after taking power in August 2021 [following a decision taken by the U.S. Administration – Ed.N] (….). Depriving millions of girls from education for three consecutive years,as well as banning women from working and denying their presence in society, is clear evidence of gender apartheid policy, for which the Taliban authorities must be brought to trial.

The Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women (SMAW) condemns the misogynist policy and gender apartheid of the Taliban and demands an immediate end to this policy. (….) Despite the fact that SMAW is under intense threat and persecution from Taliban intelligence, and dozens of its members have been arrested and tortured, and hundreds more are missing, they have established dozens of home education centers for girls who are banned from going outside.

“In order to keep our 45 educational centers active in 12 provinces of Afghanistan, where hundreds of girls are taught, we need financial aid and educational materials. We ask the institutions and individuals defending women’s rights, children’s rights and educational organizations, as well as our friends in Europe, America, Australia and all over the world, to understand the suffering and helplessness of Afghan women and girls and support them.”

20 March 2024 Kaboul

To support this campaign and make a donation: go to the website of the International Committee of Defence of Afghan Women: https://defendafghanwomen.org/