Education is one of the most fundamental human rights and serves as the foundation for sustainable development, social justice, and economic growth. The international community recognises education as a universal right under Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), emphasising equal access to education for all without discrimination. This right is also recognised in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which obliges states to guarantee free primary education and ensure equal access to secondary and higher education.
This article focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by examining the importance of education as a fundamental human right, the state of the education system in Afghanistan, particularly the situation of women and girls following the return of the Taliban, and the consequences of this crisis for sustainable development and human rights. It also discusses the international community's role in supporting the right to education and proposes measures to mitigate the impacts of this crisis.
The Importance of Education and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)
Education is universally recognized as one of the most fundamental human phenomena and is regarded as the cornerstone of sustainable development, social justice, and economic prosperity in any society. It equips individuals with knowledge, skills, and the ability to think critically, enabling them to participate effectively in society, access employment opportunities, enhance their level of knowledge, and play an active role in democratic governance processes. In addition to its individual benefits, education directly contributes to strengthening social cohesion, reducing poverty, reinforcing social institutions, and creating the foundations for lasting peace and sustainable stability.
For decades, the international community has affirmed in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) that every individual has the right to education. It further states that primary education shall be free and compulsory, while higher education shall be equally accessible to all based on merit. This principle is also reaffirmed in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which obliges States to progressively ensure that education is accessible, equitable, and of good quality for all. Likewise, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recognizes education as a fundamental right that enables the development of children’s personalities, talents, and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.
In this context, Afghanistan represents one of the most prominent contemporary examples where systematic restrictions on education, particularly the education of women and girls, have posed a serious threat to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4. These restrictions not only violate the fundamental right to education but also hinder progress toward other related Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Therefore, protecting the right to education in Afghanistan is not only a human rights obligation but also a prerequisite for sustainable development, social stability, and the country's future.
The State of Education in Afghanistan: Progress before 2021 and Regression after the Return of the Taliban
Over nearly two decades (2001–2021), following years of war and instability, Afghanistan experienced remarkable progress in rebuilding its education system. With extensive support from the international community, including UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and other development partners, access to education expanded significantly across the country. Millions of children who had previously been deprived of formal education enrolled in schools, while universities and technical and vocational education institutions also experienced unprecedented growth.
One of the most significant achievements of this period was the increased participation of girls in education, who had been completely deprived of education during the first Taliban regime. According to research conducted by UNESCO in 2001, fewer than one million Afghan children were enrolled in schools, and girls represented only a very small proportion of this number. By 2021, however, the number of students had risen to more than 9 million, of whom approximately 3.6 million were girls. Women’s participation in higher education also increased considerably, and before the political changes of August 2021, women constituted nearly one-third of university students in Afghanistan, particularly at Kabul University.
In addition to increased enrolment, Afghanistan made significant investments in teacher training, educator development, curriculum reform, the expansion of educational infrastructure, and the establishment of community-based schools, particularly in rural and war-affected areas, for women and children. These measures contributed to higher literacy rates, especially among the younger generation and women, although regional and gender inequalities undoubtedly continued to exist, as in many societies.
However, the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 marked a turning point that halted and reversed these achievements. Since September 2021, girls have been prohibited from attending secondary schools (beyond Grade 6), and in December 2022, women were banned from attending universities. Subsequently, these restrictions were extended to technical and vocational education institutions, teacher training centres, and many educational programmes operated by national and international organizations.
According to UNESCO, Afghanistan is now the only country in the world where girls are officially barred from attending secondary schools and universities and are also deprived of the right to work. As of 2025, approximately 2.2 million girls have been denied access to secondary education, and if these policies continue, this number will increase every year.
The consequences of these restrictions are not limited to the education sector alone. Excluding women from higher education not only hinders the development of a country but will also lead to a severe shortage of female teachers, doctors, nurses, and other female professionals in the future. The international community, particularly UNICEF, has warned that if these restrictions remain in place until 2030, Afghanistan will lose more than 20,000 female teachers and a substantial number of female health-sector workers, a situation that will place not only the education and healthcare systems but also the country’s broader fundamental sectors in a serious crisis.
The Situation of Afghan Women and Girls: Educational Deprivation and Human Rights Challenges
Since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, Afghan women and girls have faced unprecedented restrictions on their fundamental rights, particularly the right to education. The systematic exclusion of girls from secondary schools, universities, and many technical and vocational education centres has made Afghanistan the only country in the world where women and girls are officially prohibited from continuing their education after primary school and are openly pushed to the margins of society. These actions have been condemned by the United Nations and international human rights organizations as clear violations of human rights and Afghanistan’s international obligations.
Although education is not only a means of acquiring knowledge, it is also considered a gateway to economic independence, social participation, political empowerment, and the preservation of human dignity. When girls are deprived of the right to education, they are also deprived of opportunities for employment, leadership, access to services, and effective participation in public life. As a result, educational deprivation perpetuates the cycle of poverty, inequality, and discrimination, deepens social gaps, and leads generations toward illiteracy and underdevelopment.
UN Women has reported that these restrictions have been imposed alongside broader limitations on women’s employment, freedom of movement, social participation, and dress, creating one of the most severe examples of gender discrimination and institutionalized forms of oppression in the world.
The prohibition of education has also brought widespread psychological and social consequences. Studies by UNICEF and humanitarian organizations indicate that levels of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and psychological distress have significantly increased among girls who have been deprived of school and university education, causing many to attempt suicide and forcing some families to sell their daughters.
Conclusion
The findings of this article demonstrate that educational restrictions not only affect the individual lives of girls and women, but also impact the social, economic, and political future of Afghanistan. The deprivation of girls from education contributes to the continuation of poverty, the reduction of employment opportunities, the weakening of national institutions, and Afghanistan’s further distance from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Therefore, ensuring equal access to education for all citizens of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls, must remain one of the priorities of the international community. Sustainable development, lasting peace, and the reconstruction of Afghanistan will only be possible when half of the country’s population is not deprived of the fundamental right to education. Reopening schools and universities for girls is not only an educational necessity but also a legal, humanitarian, and moral obligation.
Afghanistan's future depends on the education of today’s generation. Supporting the right to education is an investment in building a more inclusive, empowered, and peaceful society; a society in which all citizens, without discrimination, have the opportunity to participate in the development and progress of the country.
UNESCO. Education in Afghanistan.
UNESCO. 2.2 Million Girls Still Banned from School in Afghanistan.
World Bank. Afghanistan Education Sector Review.
UN Women. Afghanistan Gender Alert Reports.
