Somaya Hasani

“Since 2021, thousands of Afghan girls have been denied their basic rights to education and freedom.”

As an Afghan girl living through these struggles, I want to share my voice and ensure that the world hears me—and all Afghan girls. Despite global efforts to promote gender equality and educational opportunities, Afghanistan remains the worst country to be a girl or a woman. A father decides when his daughter should marry. A brother dictates what she should wear. A government determines her education and freedom.

“Freedom means having the right to make our own decisions about life, education, and marriage. It means having the right to participate in society.”

According to UNESCO, approximately 1.4 million girls are banned from receiving an education. Instead, they are forced into religious schools that teach only religious subjects, restricting them from pursuing the fields they aspire to. Afghanistan is the only country that has banned girls from schools and universities. The reality is simple: No country can progress when 44.7 million of its population—its women—are left behind.


Afghan women are not only barred from education but also from public spaces, jobs, and even recreational areas. They cannot enter parks without a male chaperone. September 18, 2021, marked the reopening of schools, yet no girls were allowed to attend. This is not just a violation of their rights; it is a direct attack on their futures, leading to dwindling opportunities and deteriorating mental health. Studies by UNICEF in March 2023 emphasized how these restrictions have caused a surge in depression, anxiety, and severe stress among Afghan girls.

“Education empowers girls to make their own life choices. It opens doors to the future and reduces reliance on marriage as a means of survival. It helps girls understand their rights and live as they choose—because it is our life, and no one else should decide for us.”

Yet, in Afghanistan, all public and private schools remain closed for girls. Many are forced into marriage, believing it is their only option. Child marriage is a significant issue in Afghanistan, with UNICEF reporting that 28% of women were married before turning 18. Economic hardship and restrictive policies that limit education and employment fuel this crisis. When girls are denied education, their awareness of their rights diminishes. They do not know they have the freedom to choose when and whom to marry.


“Education is the key to empowerment. It enables women and girls to demand their rights and resist child marriage. In societies where girls' education is not prioritized, early marriage becomes the default path.”

Growing up as an Afghan girl, I have faced countless obstacles in my pursuit of education. Every day, I fight against societal expectations that seek to silence me—against gender apartheid and the restrictions placed on me for simply speaking out. I have witnessed the suffering of Afghan girls firsthand. It is a heartbreaking reality to see injustice unfold and feel powerless to stop it.

Despite the financial, educational, mental, and societal barriers, I refused to give up. When my family could not afford internet costs for my studies, I worked to pay for it myself. I taught myself English and later became a tutor for young students. I faced opposition for teaching girls in my home, but I continued because the regime refused to recognize our right to learn. I motivated girls who had lost hope. When I secretly enrolled in computer skills training at an underground organization, I lived in fear of being taken away simply for not wearing a veil. Learning was a struggle, but I refused to surrender.


In Afghanistan, girls are treated as possessions. New restrictions are imposed on us daily, each one more painful than the last. But we have learned to be strong. We have learned to rise above our challenges.

Through my journey, I have realized that no matter how difficult the path, there is always a way forward. If you fight for your dreams with all your strength, you will achieve them—because I did. And at the end of the day, when no one else stands beside you, remember that God is always there. Ask yourself: Who do I want to become at the end of this journey?

Despite all these hardships, there is still hope. Online education platforms can provide Afghan girls with access to learning. Educational communities within Afghanistan can help develop their skills. Raising our voices through global campaigns can create awareness and pressure for change.

This is not just my struggle—it is our struggle. The fight for freedom and education is a fight for a better and brighter future. We must all stand together to ensure Afghan girls have the right to study, make their own life choices, and live freely.

Let’s not stay silent. Let’s act. Because education is the key to everything—peace, progress, gender equality, and economic stability.

About the author:
Somaya Hasani, a writer from Herat, Afghanistan, is an English instructor and coding student. Passionate about education, she advocates for Afghan girls' rights through her writing, highlighting their struggles and resilience in the fight for freedom and learning.