Voice of America News reports: “The United Nations said Thursday that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have ‘deliberately deprived’ 1.4 million girls of schooling since they reclaimed power three years ago, putting at risk the future of an entire generation.

The U.N. Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization or UNESCO released the new report as de facto Afghan leaders marked the third anniversary of ruling the poverty-stricken South Asian country this week.

The Taliban swept back to power in August 2021 and have placed sweeping restrictions on women’s access to education and public life, making Afghanistan the only country in the world to prohibit access to education for girls ages 12 and older.

‘As a result of bans imposed by the de facto authorities, at least 1.4 million girls have been deliberately denied access to secondary education since 2021,’ said Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO director-general, in a statement. ‘This represents an increase of 300,000 since the previous count carried out by UNESCO in April 2023 – with more girls reaching the age limit of 12 every year,’ she noted…”