ICN reaction: Afghan women ‘banned from nursing and midwife training’ in latest blow to rights

BBC News has reported that female nursing and midwifery students in Afghanistan have been told not to return to their studies, effectively ending women’s only access to further education, and putting women and children’s lives at risk.

Reacting to the news, International Council of Nurses President, Dr Pamela Cipriano said:

“Reports that nursing and midwifery training schools in Afghanistan have effectively closed to women are extremely concerning. If it is true, it will put the lives of women and their babies at enormous risk in a country that already has high maternal and infant mortality rates.

‘There is no possible justification for this decision, which dashes the hopes of female student nurses and midwives to complete their education and go on to provide holistic care for women and their babies.

‘To speak plainly: the right of people to timely and accessible health care is dependent on there being sufficient nurses and midwives. If women can no longer train as nurses and midwives, it will have a serious and debilitating effect on Afghanistan’s health services.

‘Furthermore, education around the world is a route to economic independence and paramount to closing discrimination and the gender gap. Women also contribute to a country’s overall economy, not least nurses and midwives, the vast majority of whom are female. This significant contribution is underlined in this year’s International Nurses Day report, “The Economic Power of Care”.

‘ICN urges the government of Afghanistan to reverse this decision immediately so that the mothers, daughters and sisters of their country can receive the fundamental care they are entitled to during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond, and the women of Afghanistan can continue to receive essential care from female nurses and midwives in their country.”

‘ICN calls on Afghanistan to respect the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and for the international community to come together to support and advocate for the rights of women and girls everywhere.”