Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The UK’s chargé d’affaires to Afghanistan, Robert C. Dickson, has condemned the Taliban’s decision to ban women from pursuing medical education, describing it as a devastating blow to women’s rights and healthcare access in the country.
“I am deeply concerned about new reports that the Taliban will deny medical education to women in Afghanistan,” Dickson said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is another affront to women’s right to education and will further restrict access to healthcare for Afghan women and children.”
The new policy prohibits women from attending medical and semi-professional institutes, effectively closing one of the last remaining avenues for Afghan women to access higher education.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, which warn it will worsen Afghanistan’s already dire healthcare crisis. The country faces acute shortages of female medical professionals, who are essential in a society where cultural norms often prevent women from seeking care from male doctors.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have systematically dismantled opportunities for women, banning girls from secondary schools, universities, and now medical education. This leaves Afghan women with no viable pathways to higher education or professional careers.
Dickson’s remarks join growing international condemnation of the Taliban’s restrictive policies. Human rights organizations and foreign governments have urged the Taliban to reverse their bans on women’s education and employment, warning of devastating social and economic repercussions.
The ban comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions face limited access to healthcare, food, and other essential services.
