While World Children’s Day is celebrated globally to emphasize children’s rights and ensure a better future for them, in Afghanistan, this day serves as a grim reminder of the dire circumstances facing its children. Stripped of basic rights, Afghan children live in conditions that push their future toward darkness.
Widespread poverty, ongoing wars, and extremist policies have deprived a new generation of Afghan children of education, safety, and well-being. Due to a lack of educational facilities and economic pressure, many families are compelled to send their children to religious and jihadist schools. These institutions, instead of imparting academic and professional skills, have become spaces for instilling extremist ideologies and preparing new recruits for terrorist groups.
Statistics reveal that in recent years, thousands of religious-jihadist schools have been established across Afghanistan. These schools, rather than nurturing creative and constructive thinking, turn children into tools for advancing political and military objectives. Afghan children, who should be growing up in safe and quality educational environments, now face a bleak reality devoid of any prospects for progress or normal life.
Additionally, many Afghan children fall victim to forced labor, early marriages, and homelessness. Girls, who have been barred from formal education under the Taliban regime, are particularly vulnerable. They not only miss out on learning and development opportunities but are also subjected to various forms of violence and exploitation.
World Children’s Day presents an opportunity for the global community, human rights organizations, and the Afghan people to address the plight of children in Afghanistan. Instead of battlefields of terror or streets filled with poverty, Afghan children deserve safe schools, effective support systems, and equal opportunities for growth and advancement. The future of Afghanistan depends on investing in its younger generation, especially its children. However, as of now, this future remains at grave risk.
