Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has decided to dedicate the 2023 International Day of Education (24 January 2023) to Afghan girls and women.
‘No country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education. Education is a universal human right that must be respected. The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay. The war against women must stop.’
Currently, 2.5 million (80%) of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school, 1.2 million of whom were denied access to secondary schools and universities following the decision of the de facto authorities. Since August 2021, UNESCO has adapted its interventions to support the continuity of education in challenging circumstances.
See the UNESCO education webpage for more information.