gender apartheid

Approximately 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan are currently denied access to secondary education, a situation that could escalate to four million by 2030 if current policies persist. This alarming figure, highlighted by UNESCO and the United Nations, stems from restrictions imposed by the Taliban government since their return to power in 2021. The UN has characterized these measures as "gender apartheid," emphasizing the systematic discrimination against women and girls. The continued denial of education beyond primary levels is a critical development, underscoring the severe impact of the Taliban's policies on half the population. This situation remains highly newsworthy as it represents a significant human rights concern and a major obstacle to Afghanistan's social and economic development, with international bodies repeatedly calling for the reversal of these restrictive measures.