ISLAMABAD: The United Nations special rapporteurs have written a letter to the government of Pakistan, voicing their concerns over militant assaults on girls’ schools in Pakistan.
In the letter, Farida Shaheed, special rapporteur on the right to education; Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls; and Laura Nyirinkindi, chair-rapporteur of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, called on the government of Pakistan to protect the fundamental right of women and girls to receive a safe and secure education.
“We are troubled by the persistent terrorist attacks targeting girls’ schools by groups opposing the education of women and girls. While all attacks on schools are reprehensible, those specifically aimed at girls’ institutions discourage women and girls from pursuing education, thereby reinforcing discrimination and societal inequalities,” the letter read.
Further, they requested information from the government regarding the investigations and actions being taken to safeguard girls’ schools in Waziristan.
The experts highlighted incidents involving unidentified armed individuals using explosives to target private girls’ schools in North and South Waziristan. A similar incident took place in Surab district of the Kalat division in Balochistan. They noted that the overall enrollment rate for girls in schools is generally lower than that of boys, with the situation being particularly bleak in rural regions.
