By CAUT Staff

CAUT condemns the decision of the Taliban government last December to bar women and girls from studying at Afghanistan’s universities.

“This action amounts to a grave violation of international human rights and must not be allowed to stand,” said CAUT Executive Director David Robinson.

“This devastating decision threatens to wipe out gains made over the past 20 years. It also makes Afghanistan the only country in world today to suspend girls’ and women’s access to education.”

 UNESCO notes that from 2001 to 2018 — the period between Taliban rule — the ratio of women in higher education had increased 20 times.

CAUT is encouraging members to support Afghan academics and students at risk by donating online to the CAUT Refugee Foundation. CAUT is working with Scholars at Risk, the federal government, Education International, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the Canadian Labour Congress, and the International Trade Union Confederation to support at-risk scholars and facilitate opportunities for them in Canada.