The Education International Afghan Teachers' Rights Observatory is a vital tool to shed light on the Taliban's repressive actions. It provides critical, real-time insights into abuses of teachers' rights and the wider climate of fear surrounding girls' education.
We salute teachers and their unions in these harsh circumstances, for their resilience, bravery and determination to continue to fight for the right to education in Afghanistan, especially for girls. We salute those teachers, both men and women, who continue to advocate for girls' and women's rights, despite the risks to their own lives. Their actions are inspirational!
Afghanistan is going through a humanitarian catastrophe following the Taliban’s seizing of power on 15th August 2021. The financial freeze, the ban on schools, the closure of the borders, and continuous tackling and tracking of teachers, activists and human rights’ defenders in the country, has forced many to flee their beloved land for better living conditions and a peaceful future.
Read more about the situation in AfghanistanThe aims and objectives of ATRO are to:
Education International (EI) is the Global Union Federation that brings together organisations of teachers and other education employees from across the world. Through our 383 (check if this number has changed) member organisations, we represent more than 32 million teachers and education support personnel in 178 countries and territories. (need to get most up to date data from Duncan Smith)
Read more about Education InternationalI am a former provincial leader of the National Teachers’ Elected Council. At the same time, I have been a women’s rights activist for a long time, advocating for girls’ education and participation of women in different organizations. Due to my engagement with teachers’ union and women’s rights activism, I was one of the most well-known people in my city which put me in imminent danger.
Read more Read moreAs a teacher, I have seen many problems with my own eyes. In the republican system, my life and that of all female teachers was in danger. Teachers were threatened with death and acid was thrown on them.
Read more Read moreAlthough the Taliban’s education minister had promised that Afghan teachers’ salaries would increase, there are many problems. The Taliban’s policy of not allowing male teachers to teach girls and female teachers to teach boys has made things worse.
Read more Read moreWhere the Taliban ruled, there were no schools at all, and if there were, only boys were allowed to go to school and girls were deprived.
Read more Read moreMost of my family members are teachers, mother, sister, and brother. With the arrival of the Taliban, we lost our jobs.
Read more Read moreBefore the Taliban came to power, I was teaching in a school. Two months after they came to power, I could no longer teach.
Read more Read moreWhen the Emirate regime took over the country everything changed. Ministries closed, banks closed, public services were not available, schools were closed, business was paused, and universities also closed.
Read more Read moreI remember when I became a teacher, I realized the decency of this job, I realized that my path in this life had been destined since childhood. I realized the love and affection and the passion that flowed from nowhere in my being and unknowingly came to me every day.
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