Ban on girls’ education at medical institutions alarms UN experts

KABUL (Pajhwok): United Nations experts have expressed concern over the suspension of girls’ education at medical institutions and asked the caretaker government to reverse its decision.

The caretaker government suspended girls’ education at \medical institutions on December 3.

But a day after the decision, reliable sources told Pajhwok Afghan News that students could to take final exams.

Meanwhile, UN experts expressed alarm at the latest step and called it ‘draconian’ barring female students from education at medical institutions, UN Human Rights Office said in a statement.

“If implemented, the reported new ban will be yet another inexplicable, totally unjustifiable blow to the health, dignity, and futures of Afghan women and girls,” the experts said.

“Maternal and paediatric healthcare in Afghanistan is already in crisis, with high levels of maternal and infant mortality. If implemented the ban would compound this crisis, with profound and long-lasting effects,” the experts said.

They called on the acting authorities reverse its apparent decision.

However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has yet to comment on the issue.

kk/ma