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Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called for urgent global accountability over the Taliban’s ongoing ban on Afghan girls’ education, which has been in effect since their return to power in 2021.
Speaking at the “International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities” in Islamabad, Malala condemned the Taliban’s actions, describing the denial of education to Afghan girls as a severe violation of human rights and a setback for societal progress.
“The Taliban has imposed over 100 laws restricting women’s freedoms, with denying girls an education being one of their most egregious actions,” Malala said, urging global leaders to act in response to the persistent injustice. She emphasized that this policy not only affects Afghan girls but also hinders the broader development of the region, affecting the economy and the well-being of communities.
Malala’s speech highlighted the devastating impact of the Taliban’s education ban, which has kept millions of girls out of school and deprived them of their basic right to education. She stressed that education is essential for empowering women and uplifting entire societies, and that no country can prosper while denying half of its population access to knowledge.
The Nobel laureate’s remarks came as part of a broader discussion at the two-day conference, which brought together global experts, educators, and policymakers to address the pressing challenges faced by girls in Muslim-majority countries. The conference also discussed other issues such as the destruction of educational infrastructure in conflict zones, including Gaza.
In her speech, Malala also focused on the 120 million girls worldwide who are still unable to attend school, including 12.5 million in Pakistan. “Pakistani girls deserve the chance to explore the world’s possibilities. Every girl deserves to complete 12 years of education,” she said.
Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ education in her home country of Pakistan, reiterated her commitment to the cause and called on the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for their actions against Afghan girls. “We will fail to live up to Islam’s fundamental values of seeking knowledge if we continue to ignore the education of Afghan girls,” she added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who inaugurated the conference, also emphasized the importance of forming a global coalition involving governments, civil society, and Islamic organizations to promote girls’ education and push back against any policies that hinder their rights.
Malala’s powerful call for action resonated with attendees, reminding the world that the fight for girls’ education is far from over, and that every effort must be made to ensure that girls in Afghanistan, and across the globe, have access to the education they deserve.
