The European Union (EU) has condemned the Taliban’s reported decision to suspend medical education for women and girls in Afghanistan, calling it a severe violation of human rights.
In September of that year, the Taliban banned education for girls beyond grade six, and in December 2022, they extended the ban to women in universities.
Medical education, particularly in fields including nursing and midwifery, had been one of the few remaining opportunities for women to continue their studies.
The suspension of medical education has compounded the restrictions on women’s education in the country.
The EU called on the Taliban to reverse its decision, urging a return to education for all women and girls.
The European Union (EU) has denounced as a grave human rights violation the Taliban’s alleged decision to halt medical education for women and girls in Afghanistan.
According to media reports, the Taliban’s leader had ordered that medical education be suspended nationwide in both public and private institutions.
However, neither the order nor the Taliban’s response to the reports have been confirmed.
The Afghan Ministry of Education was contacted by Newsweek via email for comment.
How Does This Affect Women’s Educational Opportunities?
The Taliban have implemented a number of more stringent measures since regaining control in August 2021, which this most recent development comes after.
The Taliban outlawed education for girls past grade six in September of that year, and they expanded the ban to include women attending universities in December of 2022.
Medical education had been one of the last remaining avenues for women to pursue further education, especially in nursing and midwifery.
Restrictions on women’s education in the nation have been made worse by the suspension of medical education.
What Impact Will the Ban Have on Afghanistan’s Healthcare System?
Five institutions throughout Afghanistan have confirmed that medical courses for women have been suspended, according to reports from the BBC and other media.
According to reports, midwifery and nursing students were told not to go back to class on Wednesday.
In Afghanistan, where there is a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, these courses have been essential in giving women the chance to contribute to the country’s health sector.
Given that women and children already have limited access to medical care, the suspension is anticipated to have a lasting impact on the health care system’s capacity to serve them.
The EU condemns the ban’s effects on the rights of Afghan women.
The reported policy was strongly condemned by the EU in a statement.
The statement read, “The European Union expresses its strong concerns over this decision and its far-reaching implications, including the deepening of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the exacerbation of the suffering of its people.”.
It emphasized the wider ramifications of the decision to prohibit women from pursuing medical education, especially how it might exacerbate Afghanistan’s already grave humanitarian crisis. Additionally, the ban runs the risk of depriving women of vital chances to make contributions to their communities.
The European Union urged the Taliban to change its mind and reinstate education for all girls and women.
The Taliban’s limitations on women’s rights have been widely denounced by the international community, and numerous organizations, including the EU, have persisted in applying pressure on the government to uphold Afghan women’s fundamental rights.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
