Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA, stated on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl that this important day is marked in Afghanistan “with a great deal of sorrow,” as it has now been 1,120 days since the education ban on girls above the age of 12.
In a statement, she said that more than three years of opportunities have been lost, not only for millions of girls but for families and the entire country.
She said that with each passing day, the lives of girls are further damaged.
On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution, declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl to recognize girls’ rights and their unique challenges around the world.
This year, the day is being celebrated under the slogan “Girls’ Vision for the Future.”
Meanwhile, on the International Day of the Girl, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) wrote that girls need collective action to protect their rights, remove barriers, and achieve their goals.
UNICEF stressed that in order to achieve this, we must invest in girls’ efforts and amplify their voices.
The British Embassy for Afghanistan wrote that on the International Day of the Girl, London honors the strength, resilience, and capabilities of girls in Afghanistan.
Despite the challenges, their hopes remain alive. The UK supports the right to education, health, and the freedom to choose their future for girls.
The International Day of the Girl is being celebrated in Afghanistan at a time when, following the return of the Islamic Emirate, the doors to education remain closed for girls.