Afghanistan: 3 years after the de facto authorities took power, UNESCO continues to mobilize for girls’ and women’s education
| The 15 August 2024 will mark three years since the de facto authorities took power in Afghanistan. It is now the only country in the world to ban girls and women over 12 years old from schools and universities. On 8 August, UNESCO will convene an online press briefing with its experts and members of Afghan civil society to provide an update on the current state of education in Afghanistan, present UNESCO’s action and bolster global advocacy for girls’ and women’s right to education in Afghanistan.
UNESCO expert, Hoda Jaberian (specialized in Education in Emergencies), will provide new data on the number of Afghan girls and women who have been prohibited from attending secondary school and university, and the social and economic cost of such a ban.
Her colleague, Antonia Eser-Ruperti (specialized in Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists), will present UNESCO’s action to develop alternative solutions for girls’ education in Afghanistan through support for Afghan media outlets.
Ms. Hamida Aman, founder and Director of the Begum Organization for Women (BOW), will share her experience as the founder of “Radio Begum”, the only radio station in Afghanistan run entirely by women and for women, and of the newly launched « Begum TV », based in Paris, which covers the entire Afghan secondary school curriculum.
Finally, cyclists Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi, two sisters who fled Afghanistan in 2021 and participated in the Paris 2024 Olympics, will share their perspective on the impact of decisions taken by the de facto authorities on the inclusion of girls and women. |