By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – Violence has been occurring against Afghan female students to prevent them from going to school.  Men and even young boys intimidate girls through the use of harassment, sexual assault, murder and acid attacks.  They have even gone so far as burning school buildings and killing teachers.  Not surprisingly, this violence has had a severe effect on school attendance.

“A lot of my classmates and other female students don’t care for school anymore because they fear the boys’ harassment and kidnappings,” said Maryam Mansoor, an 18 year old female student who quit school.

Maryam’s father urged her to quit school in concern for her safety.  “The security situation is worsening every day.”  He continues, “I am not against my girls completing their education, but their safety is more important.  I don’t want them to study outside anymore.”

According to Reuters, the degree of violence varies according to geography.  In rural areas, “the Taliban have burned down schools, killed female students and teachers and attacked schoolgirls by throwing acid in their faces.”  On the other hand, in Kabul, schoolgirls suffer from abuse, sexual harassment and kidnappings.

Under Taliban rule, females were prohibited from going to school and work and were not able to leave their house unless accompanied by a male relative.

Since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001, the Afghan government has tried to improve access to education for all.  As a result, about 6.2 million Afghans are currently in school, two million of which are girls, compared with less than one million males while the Taliban was in power.

According to the Ministry of Education, spokesman Asif Nang reported that “in the past eight months, around 138 students and teachers have lost their lives and another 172 have been wounded in criminal and terror attacks.”  Moreover, “about 651 schools have become inactive mostly due to insecurity and another 122 school buildings have been blown up or burned down.”

The Ministry of Education requests that “Afghan and foreign forces including elders to get involved and take extra measures in providing security for all students and teachers.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Afghan Girls Return to School After Acid Attacks – 24 January 2009

CNN – Afghan Girls Maimed Vow to go to School – 23 January 2009

Reuters – Harassment Forces Afghan Girls Out of School – 28 January 2009