AFGHANISTAN: The call to safeguard the right to education for Afghan girls resonates strongly within the international community. On the solemn occasion of the second anniversary of the Taliban's decree prohibiting secondary education for girls, the head of the UN's education emergency fund emphasized the imperative of ensuring that every girl in Afghanistan receives an opportunity to learn.
"The de facto authorities in Afghanistan have a profound responsibility to the long-suffering people of this war-torn nation. This responsibility lies in guaranteeing that every Afghan girl gains access to high-quality education, empowering them to actively participate in the reconstruction of their nation," she asserted.
A staggering statistic underscores the gravity of the situation: presently, a staggering 80 percent of school-age Afghan girls find themselves absent from the classroom. This translates to a heart-wrenching figure of 2.5 million girls being deprived of their fundamental right to education – a right that encompasses safety, protection, and the opportunity for growth, intrinsic to their humanity.
In response to this dire situation, there is a resounding call for the elevation of #AfghanGirlsVoices. Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a prominent fund, stands in solidarity with the brave Afghan girls who are courageously advocating for their right to education. To amplify their voices and draw global attention to this issue, the fund has recently launched the #AfghanGirlsVoices campaign, which will remain a focal point throughout the year.
"Collectively, we bear the responsibility of ensuring that, through education, every Afghan girl emerges from the shadows, poised to contribute to a brighter future that every Afghan rightfully deserves," affirmed Ms. Sherif.
In Afghanistan, ECW operates a multi-year resilience program designed to support over 250,000 children and young people in some of the most remote and underserved regions of the nation. Urgent appeals have been issued for additional funding, aimed at bridging a substantial $30 million shortfall necessary for the complete implementation of this program. Furthermore, a staggering $670 million is required to fully finance a new strategic plan with the ambitious goal of reaching 20 million children affected by crises worldwide over the course of the next three years. These appeals emphasize the critical need to secure funding to ensure that education is not just a distant dream but a tangible reality for countless vulnerable children.
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