Education, The Lost Dream of Afghan Girls
WRITTEN BY: BIBI R B
Posted on: August 15 at 12:00 AM
Afghanistan, a country with an ancient history and rich culture, has long been a crossroads of empires and civilizations. Nearly half of its population is female, yet the role of women in Afghanistan's socio-political landscape has often been fraught with controversy.
Over the past two decades, Afghan women and girls made remarkable strides, particularly in political, social, cultural, and educational fields. The events following September 11, 2001, and the subsequent international involvement in Afghanistan, led to rapid advancements in women's rights and integration into society. After years of oppression under the Taliban's first rule, Afghan women reentered the public sphere with newfound vigor.
Notable Achievements:
Women secured significant representation in Afghanistan's parliament, held key ministerial positions, and played important roles in the judicial system as judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors.
1. Political Participation:
Women were actively involved in government administration, economic development, and civil society institutions, contributing to the promotion of human rights for all citizens.
2. Social and Cultural Engagement:
3. Economic Contributions:
Women thrived as business professionals, driving independent economic growth through specialized businesses.
With the return of education in 2001, millions of Afghan girls gained access to schooling. Over time, the number of female students in higher education institutions grew, and women occupied vital roles in teaching and academia.
4. Educational Progress:
But Now…
The Taliban's resurgence in August 2021 has reversed these hard-won gains. Numerous restrictive decrees have stripped Afghan women and girls of their basic rights, including education, work, and social participation. The dreams of Afghan girls, once filled with aspirations of becoming doctors, engineers, and leaders, have been shattered. A generation is now deprived of education, and the future looks bleak.
Today marks the three years of hopelessness for the girls in Afghanistan. But I stand here not just to acknowledge that despair, but to deliver a message of hope. Hope for every Afghan girl who dreams of education in a world that seems to have forgotten them. I want every Afghan girl, and the world, to know that they are not alone in this fight—this battle of education versus ignorance. Today, I am speaking for those Afghan girls who cannot speak for themselves, who are denied their right to education, their right to work, their right to choose, and their right to simply live freely.
Education has become a lost dream for Afghan girls, one that they’ve been chasing desperately for three long years since the fall of Kabul. But let’s be clear: education is not a luxury; it is a right—a right that every Afghan girl should have. We cannot ignore this. We must protest, we must write, and we must ensure that those in power hear our voices and are compelled to act. I am an Afghan girl. I know what it feels like to have that right stripped away. For nearly a year and a half, I couldn’t go to school because the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again on August 15, 2021. I remember the hopelessness, the emptiness of a life without education. It’s a feeling I wouldn’t wish on anyone. And yet, so many girls in Afghanistan are still living in that darkness, unable to attend school or continue their education.
A Call to Action:
But despite the despair, we cannot give up. We must stand together, we must raise our voices, and we must fight for a future where every Afghan girl can learn, grow, and thrive. We owe it to them, to ourselves, and to the world. For those who fight for human and women's rights, the solution is not to forget this tragedy. We must act to ensure Afghan girls have access to education. I urge you to support this cause by developing more online programs and providing educational opportunities that can reach Afghan girls in every city across Afghanistan.
“Together we can keep the flame of education burning for Afghan girls. Together, we can save a generation of Afghan women from falling into despair.”