WORLD
Advocates Philippines
Campaign Shines Light On Afghan Girls' Struggle For Education Amidst Taliban Ban
Young girls study at a school in Mazar-i-Sharīf, Balkh Province, Afghanistan. UNICEF/Mark Naftalin
Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies, has launched the poignant #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign, shedding light on the plight of Afghan girls whose access to education has been stifled for two years under the de facto Taliban regime. The campaign aims to amplify the voices of these girls and draw attention to their denied basic right to education and learning.
Developed in collaboration with ECW Global Champion Somaya Faruqi, former Captain of the Afghan Girls’ Robotic Team, and featuring evocative artwork by a young Afghan female artist, the campaign brings forth a series of moving testimonies from Afghan girls whose lives have been disrupted by the education ban. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity are depicted through striking illustrations that convey both despair and strength.
Somaya Faruqi, an ECW Global Champion, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The courage of these girls in Afghanistan gives me the strength to use my own voice… It’s more urgent than ever to act now, and I hope that next year, we celebrate their freedom rather than mark their oppression.”
According to a recent report by UN experts, the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is labeled as the ‘worst globally’. The systematic denial of their rights and severe discrimination under the Taliban regime is likened to “gender apartheid” and “gender persecution”.
UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of ECW’s High-Level Steering Group, The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, urged the international community to take action, advocating for legal measures and increased support for educational opportunities for Afghan girls. He stated, “The international community must hear this poignant call from the heart…to condemn the violation of their rights.”
The campaign, featuring poignant quotes and original art illustrations, encourages solidarity by sharing these assets across social media daily, from August 15 (the date the Taliban took power in 2021) to September 18 (marking the start of the school ban). This timing coincides with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit on September 18-19, offering a platform for the voices of Afghan girls to reach world leaders and advocate for their right to education.
ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif emphasized their commitment, stating, “We will continue to steadfastly advocate for the full resumption of their right to education…through the community-based education programmes we support.”
ECW has been aiding education in Afghanistan since 2017, striving to support children and adolescents, particularly girls, through community-based education programs. The #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign underscores the importance of rallying behind these girls and ensuring they are not left behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Developed in collaboration with ECW Global Champion Somaya Faruqi, former Captain of the Afghan Girls’ Robotic Team, and featuring evocative artwork by a young Afghan female artist, the campaign brings forth a series of moving testimonies from Afghan girls whose lives have been disrupted by the education ban. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity are depicted through striking illustrations that convey both despair and strength.
Somaya Faruqi, an ECW Global Champion, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The courage of these girls in Afghanistan gives me the strength to use my own voice… It’s more urgent than ever to act now, and I hope that next year, we celebrate their freedom rather than mark their oppression.”
According to a recent report by UN experts, the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is labeled as the ‘worst globally’. The systematic denial of their rights and severe discrimination under the Taliban regime is likened to “gender apartheid” and “gender persecution”.
UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of ECW’s High-Level Steering Group, The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, urged the international community to take action, advocating for legal measures and increased support for educational opportunities for Afghan girls. He stated, “The international community must hear this poignant call from the heart…to condemn the violation of their rights.”
The campaign, featuring poignant quotes and original art illustrations, encourages solidarity by sharing these assets across social media daily, from August 15 (the date the Taliban took power in 2021) to September 18 (marking the start of the school ban). This timing coincides with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit on September 18-19, offering a platform for the voices of Afghan girls to reach world leaders and advocate for their right to education.
ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif emphasized their commitment, stating, “We will continue to steadfastly advocate for the full resumption of their right to education…through the community-based education programmes we support.”
ECW has been aiding education in Afghanistan since 2017, striving to support children and adolescents, particularly girls, through community-based education programs. The #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign underscores the importance of rallying behind these girls and ensuring they are not left behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Aug 16, 2023
