On April 16, 2012, Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Takhar had a terrifying incident, whereby; more than 170 girl students and teachers of a girls’ school fell violently sick after consuming water from the school’s water tank. They were quickly provided medical attention and hospitalized. Most of them were suffering from dizziness, fainting and headache. Luckily, there was no loss of life. They were all found to be stable and released from the hospital. Yet, the incident worked towards instilling fear in the minds of the girls and their parents.
It is suspected that the water was poisoned to harm the girls’ health. It allegedly was to convey a chilling message to parents of those girls who are being sent to school that they will be harmed. The Taliban is suspected to be behind this incident. Investigation in this matter is being conducted. The Taliban regime has always been vehemently opposed to even providing the most basic of rights to women including education. It must be known that during the Taliban rule of Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, girls were forbidden from attending schools. Under the strict regime, women were relegated to staying at home and had no say in their own affairs. Since the NATO forces overthrew the Taliban forces, Afghanistan has been struggling to regain normalcy. Human-rights organizations along with the support of NATO forces are trying to get more and more Afghani girls back into schools.
As a result of this Back-to-school initiative for girls, more and more girls are getting educated though the numbers are still dismally low. Attacks of such kind are suspected to deter girls and their parents from going to school. In Afghanistan’s already conservative society, it is a big task to convince parents to allow their girls to venture out to study and work. Such incidents put a spoke in the wheel of their confidence in the safety of doing so.
With the NATO forces withdrawal from the country by 2014 drawing near, it is dreaded that the security situation will be even more adversely affected in Afghanistan. That will lead to human rights initiatives like girls’ education suffering as a consequence. It is of crucial importance, therefore, that Afghan Security Forces that are currently being trained by the NATO forces be adequately equipped and trained to face the larger threat of a resurgent Taliban waiting on the fringes to strike. This is not only vital for Afghanishtan’s security but also that of the entire region.
See the video above to have a glimpse of how girls spend their time in Baghnazargah School, which is located 5 kilometers away from Herat. Film Annex has also been contributing towards girls' education in Afghanistan through its various initiatives. In April 2012, Film Annex will start building internet classrooms for 4,000 students. Keep reading more about such wonderful initiatives at my channel.
To read my other posts on Afghanistan, please see my webtv
