In Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan, This Girl’s Only Hope To Stay In School Is To Fail
Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban has enforced a series of decrees aimed at systematically excluding women and girls from public life.
In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where girls are banned from studying beyond the sixth grade, a young girl made a heartbreaking confession. The young girl said she wished to fail her class just to stay in school. Her words reflect the devastating reality faced by millions of Afghan girls deprived of education and a future.
Her words were backed by many on X (formerly Twitter). One said, “Such an intelligent and courageous girl she is. I love her confidence. I wish schools were open for them, and today she wouldn’t complain about the closure of schools." Another comment praised her for her “smart" move, “Well, she already is smarter than the Taliban, obviously."
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Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, they have issued a series of decrees systematically erasing women and girls from public life. The latest report by UN Women details the impact of these restrictions, describing them as an all-out assault on women’s autonomy and fundamental rights.
Alison Davidian, UN Women’s Country Representative in Afghanistan, provided a grim picture of the situation. “Three years ago, the world was watching a takeover that was livestreaming horror after horror," she stated. “And three years later, while the world’s attention may have turned elsewhere, the horrors have not stopped for Afghan women and girls."
The Taliban’s policies have banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade, forbidden women from working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pushed them out of leadership positions. Even when women are engaged in the Taliban’s structures, their roles are often limited to policing the behaviour of other women under discriminatory decrees.
A staggering 98 per cent of Afghan women surveyed reported having little to no influence in decisions made in their communities and even within their own homes, their agency is rapidly diminishing. According to UN Women, the percentage of women who feel they have a say in household decisions has dropped by nearly 60 per cent over the past year.
The lack of education and economic participation has also led to a deepening mental health crisis. 68 per cent of Afghan women reported experiencing severe mental distress, while 8 per cent personally knew a woman or girl who had attempted suicide.
The long-term effects of this systemic oppression are expected to be dire. By 2026, the absence of 1.1 million girls from schools and 100,000 women from universities is projected to result in a 45 per cent increase in early childbearing and up to a 50 per cent rise in maternal mortality.
Despite these grim statistics, Afghan women continue to resist oppression, holding onto their resilience and conviction. UN Women has called for increased investment in Afghan women and girls, urging the international community to provide sustainable funding for education, livelihoods and entrepreneurship programs.
“The world is watching," said Davidian. “If we allow Afghan women to fight alone, we lose the moral ground to fight for women’s rights anywhere else. Their fate determines the fate of women everywhere."
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