Afghan Envoy Urges Equal Education for Youth
Afghanistan's acting UN representative called for equal education and social opportunities for women and young people at a UN General Assembly meeting.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Youth
Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan's acting UN representative, called for equal education and social opportunities for women and young people. He warned that restrictions on education and employment are depriving an entire generation of opportunities.
Why it matters
Faiq's remarks highlight concerns that restrictions on schooling and work are limiting the prospects of Afghanistan's youth. The statements were made at a UN forum focused on the rights and challenges facing young Afghans.
UNICEF figures cited by Faiq put more than 2.6 million girls out of secondary school since 2021, while more than 23,000 religious schools had been established as of September 2025. Officials did not address how many of those schools are operating or how curricula are being monitored.
The players
Nasir Ahmad Faiq
Faiq serves as Afghanistan's acting UN representative and spoke on the rights and opportunities of Afghan youth at the meeting.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF is the UN agency responsible for children's welfare, and its figures on girls' education were cited by Faiq.
The details
At the meeting, titled 'Afghan Youth at a Crossroads: Rights, Aspirations, Challenges and Opportunities,' Faiq said universities remain closed to women and that restrictions on employment and movement have reduced women's independence. He also noted that foreign languages and civic subjects have been removed from school curricula, and that young men face poverty, unemployment and limits on freedom of expression.
Timeline
- 2021: Restrictions on girls' access to secondary education began in Afghanistan.
- September 2025: The count of religious schools in Afghanistan reached 23,000.
- Monday, November 2, 2026: Faiq spoke at the UN General Assembly Third Committee youth meeting.
Youth Context
The education restrictions cited by Faiq began in 2021 and have been documented through UNICEF data on girls excluded from secondary school. The 23,000 religious schools established since then mark a shift in how education is delivered in the country.
For young people and families in Afghanistan, the restrictions mean limited access to secondary schooling, universities and jobs for girls and women. Young men also face unemployment and constraints on expression, shaping daily prospects across the country.
The takeaway
Access to education and work shapes the long-term prospects of an entire generation. Tracking figures such as school enrollment and employment helps show whether restrictions are easing or deepening.
Further reading
For more on young people's lives and challenges, see the Youth section.
