KABUL - Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva issued a statement today marking International Day of the Girl (11 October).

“In Afghanistan, we mark this important day with a great deal of sorrow, because it is now 1120 days since the de facto authorities have imposed a ban on educating girls over the age of 12. This is more than three years of lost opportunity – not just for millions of girls, but for families, communities and the entire country,” said Otunbayeva.

”As each day passes, even greater damage is being done to the lives of women and girls. Afghanistan is being taken backwards, not forwards, in its quest for peace, recovery, and prosperity,” said Otunbayeva.

“I take this opportunity to again appeal to the de facto authorities to change course. I also promise to Afghanistan’s women and girls that we will not cease to speak up for them, even when others seek to silence them,” said Otunbayeva.

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The 2024 theme is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’, conveying both the need for urgent action and persistent hope. Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises of climate, conflict, poverty and pushback on hard won gains for human rights and gender equality.

UNAMA is mandated by Security Council Resolution 2626 (2022) which was extended under Resolution 2678 (2023) and Resolution 2727 (2024). This mandate tasks UNAMA with the promotion and support of humanitarian assistance in line with humanitarian principles, human rights, equality for women and girls, inclusive governance, resilience, and economic stability, and using our good offices for principled and constructive engagement with all national, regional and global stakeholders in the pursuit of Afghanistan’s peace and stability.

Statement in Dari | Pashto