In Afghanistan, the Taliban has banned women and girls from accessing higher education. The Taliban have already barred female students from secondary schools since last year, despite pledges the move was temporary. The decision was met with immediate condemnation from Afghan women and rights groups, including the United Nations.

Stéphane Dujarric: “What it is, it’s clearly another broken promise from the Taliban. We have seen, since their takeover and also in the past months, just a lessening of the space for women, not only in education but access to public areas, their nonparticipation in the public debate.”