No One Left Behind

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 193 member states of the United Nations have agreed that no one should be left behind. Their greatest efforts are directed toward assisting the most remote and disadvantaged people who are deprived of their most basic rights. All countries are committed to ending inequalities, combating discrimination, and providing equal, quality education. This principle recognizes that all people, regardless of their background, are entitled to equal opportunities. Accordingly, barriers to access, discriminatory laws, and structural inequalities must be identified so that everyone can participate in society and its activities without restriction. This essay strongly agrees that the continues denial of girls’ education in Afghanistan represents a crucial violation of human rights and a direct contradiction of the principle of “leaving no one behind” under the 2030 Agenda (United Nations, 2015). However, despite these principles, five years have passed, and Afghan girls remain deprived of their most basic rights.

The Taliban have deprived Afghan girls and women of these rights (Human Right Watch, 2024) and their rule in the country is implemented based on their own interpretation of Islamic law, where no one has the right to criticize them. This determines how intellectual governance can directly conflict with internationally identified human rights standards. These restrictions are not only closing the doors of schools and universities but also those of hope for millions of girls. It has now been five years without any change in the Taliban’s policy on girls’ education. Initially, the justification was to provide a safe environment in accordance with Islamic law, including teaching by female teachers and the separation of classes for girls and boys, while Afghanistan had already incorporated these principles into its education system. This policy was also implemented in the 1990s during the first Taliban government, when girls were banned from attending school, and women were not allowed to work outside the home.

Women’s education under the Taliban is a complex and deeply concerning issue. However, after 2001, there was a period in which the largest investments in girls’ education were made in the country. Not only the Afghan government but also international institutions made significant contributions. Although there were many challenges, including cultural barriers, poverty, and security concerns, girls continued to resist these obstacles and pursue their education. Until 2021, Afghan girls achieved remarkable progress. This comparison feature that the modern condition is not due to structural impossibility but rather deliberate policy choices. In 2021, the Taliban took over.

This restriction not only hinders education but also has far-reaching consequences for society. In appropriate, it consistently excludes women from public life and limits their ability to contribute to national development. Women are deprived of opportunities that would allow them to flourish and have lost many years that could have been devoted to improving their skills. In addition, the absence of women has contributed to the overall economic and social backwardness of Afghanistan for several years. This represents the second time that the same policy from their first-term government has been implemented. From the very first day, the Taliban have imposed restrictions on women. They have not stopped there; they have also imposed restrictions on women’s movement. Women are required to wear a full hijab and have a religious mahram when leaving the house. In some provinces of Afghanistan, women are not allowed to access health facilities without a mahram, meaning that even the right to health has been restricted.

At present, 1000 days have passed since girls were deprived of attending school. This restriction has been in place since the beginning of the Taliban regime and continues today. If this ban continues until 2030, the goal of “No One Left Behind” in Afghanistan will fail, and the number of girls deprived of education will increase every year. This condition considers a broader collapse to protect vulned communities in line with international commitments. This will not only increase the number of affected girls but also exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Girls are not even allowed to study in the health sector, and gradually this situation has disrupted the country’s healthcare system.

Every human being, regardless of race, gender, language, or ethnicity, has the right to education. The international community has committed to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. This right is enshrined in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While other countries are removing barriers to education, Afghanistan remains the only country still denying this right. This clearly shows a significant gap between international legal commitments and their implementation in practice. Education worldwide is based on the principle of inclusiveness, which means fair access, participation, and non-discrimination.

Early marriage has long been considered one of the biggest challenges to girls’ education, especially in rural areas (Khamma Press, 2024). With the ban on girls’ education, this situation has worsened into a crisis. Girls in Afghanistan are experiencing serious psychological distress. Furthermore, Taliban have violated the fundamental rights of women and girls in areas such as employment and freedom of expression, and many girls do not dare to express their views (Human Right Watch, 2025). The Taliban continue to arrest girls who do not fully comply with their rules. Currently, almost all opportunities have been taken away from girls. Even available scholarships often exclude girls in Afghanistan. As a result, access to educational opportunities remains extremely limited. Additionally, this ongoing exclusion risks normalizing gender-based discrimination and undermining global efforts toward equality and justice. Gradually, the world has become accustomed to this situation, and the goal of leaving no one behind risks being forgotten.