UNESCO has warned that the Taliban’s continued ban on girls’ and women’s education could cause decades of damage to Afghanistan’s social and economic future.

An estimated 2.4 million Afghan girls have been excluded from secondary education since 2021, while women have also been barred from attending universities. Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are formally prevented from accessing secondary and higher education.

UNESCO estimates that the restrictions could push nearly 600,000 women out of the workforce by 2066, potentially resulting in around $9.6 billion in cumulative income losses.

The UN agency has also warned of a shortage of more than 11,000 qualified female teachers by 2030. More than 2 million primary-school children are already out of school for reasons beyond the ban on girls’ education.

Taliban Education Ban Sparks UNESCO Warning | Millions of Afghan Girls Locked Out of School

Its been more than a year since the Taliban took over Afghanistan and since day one the group has claimed that it is reformed. Many expected the Taliban, who had previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, would change its traditional ways. The phrase "Taliban 2.0" was coined, but, is there any change? The recent ordeal borne by WION's reporter and Pakistan bureau chief Anas Mallick and the couple of weeks old tribulation faced by Australian journalist Lynne O’Donnell are glaring examples of the Taliban's radical and regressive ways.

For those who are unaware of two incidents let us give you a lowdown. On Thursday, August 4 2022, WION correspondent Anas Mallick was detained by the Taliban and subjected to 21 hours of physical assault. This after he was duly accredited, and had all the press credentials.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wion-correspondent-anas-mallick-returns-home-safe-504110/embed" width="560"></iframe>

In a similar incident, another journalist, this time an Australian woman, was detained by the Taliban.

After arriving in Kabul for her reporting on the suffering of women under the Taliban administration and how young girls are used as sex slaves, Lynne O'Donnell was apprehended.&nbsp;

O'Donnell, who is a reporter with Foreign Policy magazine was imprisoned for three days and she was made to tweet an apology for having written about the atrocities committed by the militant group.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wion-correspondent-anas-mallick-shows-torn-clothes-and-injuries-as-he-reveals-his-trauma-504109">WION correspondent Anas Mallick shows torn clothes and injuries as he reveals his trauma</a>&nbsp;

Pressure from relevant government authorities in New&nbsp;Delhi, Islamabad and Kabul helped secure Anas' safe release, and he returned to his home in Islamabad, Pakistan within 24 hours.&nbsp;However, the local producer and driver that accompanied him are still being imprisoned by the Taliban.

Even as he's trying to cope with the mental, and physical trauma, he believes he only suffered 25 per cent of the assault while his companions who are still in the Taliban's hands were subjected to 75 per cent of it. What will become of them? Only time will tell.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wions-anas-mallick-abduction-by-taliban-local-producer-and-driver-still-being-held-504117">WION's Anas Mallick abducted by Taliban: Local producer and driver still in captivity</a>

In the past too the organisation has caused unnecessary hardships for journalists who work relentlessly for the good of society.

What has the group not done? It compelled female journalists to cover their faces on TV, to quit their jobs, girls can't get an education, women can't go out alone,&nbsp;minorities are being subjected to atrocities and much more. People, especially women are suffering.&nbsp;It took them the 20 years of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan to acquire rights to things like education and employment, and now those rights have vanished. Is this the "modern" Taliban, they were promised?

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Its been more than a year since the Taliban took over Afghanistan and since day one the group has claimed that it is reformed. Many expected the Taliban, who had previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, would change its traditional ways.

Its been more than a year since the Taliban took over Afghanistan and since day one the group has claimed that it is reformed. Many expected the Taliban, who had previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, would change its traditional ways. The phrase "Taliban 2.0" was coined, but, is there any change? The recent ordeal borne by WION's reporter and Pakistan bureau chief Anas Mallick and the couple of weeks old tribulation faced by Australian journalist Lynne O’Donnell are glaring examples of the Taliban's radical and regressive ways. For those who are unaware of two incidents let us give you a lowdown. On Thursday, August 4 2022, WION correspondent Anas Mallick was detained by the Taliban and subjected to 21 hours of physical assault. This after he was duly accredited, and had all the press credentials. In a similar incident, another journalist, this time an Australian woman, was detained by the Taliban. After arriving in Kabul for her reporting on the suffering of women under the Taliban administration and how young girls are used as sex slaves, Lynne O'Donnell was apprehended. O'Donnell, who is a reporter with Foreign Policy magazine was imprisoned for three days and she was made to tweet an apology for having written about the atrocities committed by the militant group. Also read | WION correspondent Anas Mallick shows torn clothes and injuries as he reveals his trauma Pressure from relevant government authorities in New Delhi, Islamabad and Kabul helped secure Anas' safe release, and he returned to his home in Islamabad, Pakistan within 24 hours. However, the local producer and driver that accompanied him are still being imprisoned by the Taliban. Even as he's trying to cope with the mental, and physical trauma, he believes he only suffered 25 per cent of the assault while his companions who are still in the Taliban's hands were subjected to 75 per cent of it. What will become of them? Only time will tell. Also read | WION's Anas Mallick abducted by Taliban: Local producer and driver still in captivity In the past too the organisation has caused unnecessary hardships for journalists who work relentlessly for the good of society. What has the group not done? It compelled female journalists to cover their faces on TV, to quit their jobs, girls can't get an education, women can't go out alone, minorities are being subjected to atrocities and much more. People, especially women are suffering. It took them the 20 years of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan to acquire rights to things like education and employment, and now those rights have vanished. Is this the "modern" Taliban, they were promised? (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Same old radical, regressive beliefs, is this the Taliban 2.0 the world was promised?

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights.

In the months since the US withdrawal, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been struggling to battle poverty, a “looming humanitarian crisis”, facing chronic poverty and drought.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-pm-urges-charities-to-keep-offering-aid-as-nation-battles-poverty-432485">Afghanistan's PM urges charities to keep offering aid as nation battles poverty</a>

Afghanistan and its new rulers have been asking international agencies for assistance in the past few months, and this decree may very well be an effort to appease foreign powers. This document, titled "Special Decree issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights", talks about the different rights that Afghan women will now have.

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Special Decree Issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights <a href="https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R">https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4xdq0gIQa">pic.twitter.com/Y4xdq0gIQa</a>
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1466663907750256642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2021</a></blockquote>
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One of the rights mentioned is marriage or Nekah (Nikah) rights. According to the decree, a woman's consent is necessary for marriage and coercion can't be used to force a woman into marriage.&nbsp;

It is also stated that widows have the right to choose and determine their future after the 'Sharaie Adat' period (four months and ten nights after husband's death or pregnancy) and also the right to marry.&nbsp;

The document then goes on to establish that women are not property "but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace deal and or to end animosity".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-ban-on-women-can-cost-economy-usd-1-billion-433652">Taliban ban on women can cost economy USD 1 billion</a>

A woman's property, heritage rights, and a husband's monetary obligations towards his wife/wives are also described in the document. It is mentioned that if a polygynous marriage occurs, the husband must maintain fairness among all of his wives according to Sharia law.

Furthermore, instructions have been given for the implementation of this decree to the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Supreme Court, and Governors, district governors.&nbsp;

However, there is no mechanism in the document for handling grievances if these rights aren't recognized. It should also be noted that this remains a mere decree and isn't actually a law that can be enforced.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;WION Wideangle: Afghan Women: what's next?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-afghan-women-whats-next-397164/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Despite the Taliban's promise that it would be easier on women this time around, a tirade of diktats passed by the group proved anything but. It restricts what women can wear, forces them to cover from head to foot, prevents them from leaving their homes without a male companion, stops them from working and limits their education.

Whether this newly issued "special decree" will have the desired effect of providing women with fundamental rights or if 'fairer sex' will continue to be oppressed remains to be seen.&nbsp;

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights.

With the US and western nations pushing the Taliban to honour women's rights, the official Twitter account of Afghanistan's government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has now shared a decree on women's rights. In the months since the US withdrawal, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been struggling to battle poverty, a “looming humanitarian crisis”, facing chronic poverty and drought. Also read | Afghanistan's PM urges charities to keep offering aid as nation battles poverty Afghanistan and its new rulers have been asking international agencies for assistance in the past few months, and this decree may very well be an effort to appease foreign powers. This document, titled "Special Decree issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights", talks about the different rights that Afghan women will now have. Special Decree Issued by Amir al-Momenin on Women's Rights https://t.co/OEZYqiCE7R pic.twitter.com/Y4xdq0gIQa — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) December 3, 2021 × One of the rights mentioned is marriage or Nekah (Nikah) rights. According to the decree, a woman's consent is necessary for marriage and coercion can't be used to force a woman into marriage. It is also stated that widows have the right to choose and determine their future after the 'Sharaie Adat' period (four months and ten nights after husband's death or pregnancy) and also the right to marry. The document then goes on to establish that women are not property "but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace deal and or to end animosity". Also read | Taliban ban on women can cost economy USD 1 billion A woman's property, heritage rights, and a husband's monetary obligations towards his wife/wives are also described in the document. It is mentioned that if a polygynous marriage occurs, the husband must maintain fairness among all of his wives according to Sharia law. Furthermore, instructions have been given for the implementation of this decree to the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Supreme Court, and Governors, district governors. However, there is no mechanism in the document for handling grievances if these rights aren't recognized. It should also be noted that this remains a mere decree and isn't actually a law that can be enforced. Watch | WION Wideangle: Afghan Women: what's next? Despite the Taliban's promise that it would be easier on women this time around, a tirade of diktats passed by the group proved anything but. It restricts what women can wear, forces them to cover from head to foot, prevents them from leaving their homes without a male companion, stops them from working and limits their education. Whether this newly issued "special decree" will have the desired effect of providing women with fundamental rights or if 'fairer sex' will continue to be oppressed remains to be seen.

Women are 'noble and free human beings': Taliban issues decree on women rights