The Kabul Tribune (KT)—Norwegian Refugee Council Secretary-General Jan Egeland said he pressed Taliban leaders in Kabul and Kandahar to allow girls to continue their education beyond primary school, warning that Afghanistan is losing female teachers and health workers as restrictions on women’s education persist.
“In both Kabul and Kandahar, I met Taliban leaders to push
for education for girls beyond primary school,” Egeland said.
He said thousands of female teachers and health workers are
leaving the labor market each year, with no new graduates available to replace
them.
“This is a serious concern for Afghanistan, and that’s why
we continue to work for a resumption of education, on all levels, for women and
girls, all according to Afghan traditions,” Egeland said.
Egeland also questioned the absence of foreign diplomats and
envoys from Afghanistan, saying their presence was necessary to advocate for
women’s rights.
“Where are all the diplomats and envoys, who should be here
in Afghanistan, and pushing with us for women’s rights? You cannot do that from
abroad,” he said.
