The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is effectively closed to girls and women, with more than 2.6 million girls denied access to secondary education since the Taliban returned to power five years ago.
UNICEF said on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in a report marking five years since the Taliban takeover that the prolonged restrictions on girls’ education are putting an entire generation at greater risk of poverty, early marriage, child labor, violence and abuse.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, said five years may be a relatively short period in a country’s history, but it represents a decisive period in the life of a girl.
“Education is a shield against child labour, early marriage, violence and abuse,” Russell said, warning that closing schools has removed an important layer of protection for Afghan girls.
UNICEF said girls who are excluded from education face increased risks of child labor, exploitation, early marriage and gender-based violence. These risks are further compounded by rising household poverty and displacement, the agency said.
The organization again called for the immediate removal of restrictions preventing girls and women from accessing education.
“A country cannot thrive when half of its young people are held back from progress,” Russell said.
The education restrictions are also having broader economic consequences for Afghanistan. According to the analysis cited by UNICEF, restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment cost the Afghanistan economy about $84 million in lost economic output each year.
The analysis warns that the economic losses will continue to grow if the restrictions remain in place, as more girls are excluded from education and more women are prevented from participating fully in the labor market.
The restrictions on education are part of a broader set of measures imposed on Afghan women and girls since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Girls have been barred from secondary schools, while women and girls have also faced restrictions on higher education, employment and participation in public life.
The prolonged exclusion of women and girls comes as Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. Millions of Afghans rely on humanitarian assistance, while aid agencies have warned of funding shortages and growing needs.
UNICEF has repeatedly emphasized that access to education is not only a fundamental right but also an important safeguard for children and a key investment in Afghanistan’s long-term social and economic development.
