Pathways to Education for Afghan Women and Girls

This month, Afghanistan’s schools opened for the start of a new academic year, but Afghan girls remain excluded from the classroom. The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education has lasted over a year and its implications are dire. Without the promise of a secondary education, increases in forced child marriage, gender-based violence, and depression disproportionately affect Afghan women and girls. There is no simple solution or replacement for in-person schooling. However, in this critical moment, the international community must identify, fund, and monitor alternative pathways to education for Afghan girls while continuing to advocate for a reversal of the ban. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security hosted four high-level expert discussions with various stakeholders––from underground school administrators, nonprofit directors, media groups, and government officials––to identify practical pathways forward for inclusive and quality education in Afghanistan.