Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to schools, or other bodies under the aegis of his Department, who are providing educational support to women and girls in Afghanistan suffering under the Taliban regime which limits females access to education; if this is an area where more can be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9706/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the supports Ireland can give either unilaterally, or working with European partners, to help women and girls in Afghanistan who are suffering under the rule of the Taliban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 195 together.

Ireland has consistently condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. My commitment and that of the Government to this issue, and particularly the systematic gender persecution now being perpetrated by the Taliban against women and girls in Afghanistan, is well known and has been clearly set out in "Securing our Future".

My advocacy and that of the Taoiseach in raising the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan is extensive. Ireland, with the then Tánaiste and UN Secretary General Guterres in attendance, hosted a side event at UN High Level Week in September 2024, to highlight the inclusion of women in the future of Afghanistan. The issue is regularly raised in appropriate international human rights fora such as the UN Human Rights Council, including most recently on 28 February at the current HRC session where we delivered a statement denouncing the Taliban’s continued enforcement of restrictive decrees that curtail the human rights of women and girls, including the recent suspension of medical education for women by the Taliban. We will also be active on the issue at the forthcoming session in New York of the Commission on the Status of Women which the Minister for Health will attend.

The ability of Afghan women and girls to have access to education as a fundamental human right remains a key concern for Ireland and the international community. Ireland’s policy for international development, A Better World, makes a commitment to scale up support for quality education, with a focus on education in emergencies and girls’ education. The horrific situation regarding women’s education in Afghanistan is unprecedented and is the direct result of Taliban-imposed decrees. The 2025 United Nations Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Afghanistan states that 1.5 million teenage girls are out of school due to the ongoing ban on secondary education for girls while their access to primary education has also fallen sharply. Education is vital for women and girls’ wellbeing and their involvement in Afghan society. Restrictive measures introduced by the Taliban have disproportionately impacted on women and girls, severely limiting their access to health, education and employment and leading to increased levels of early, and forced, marriage and child labour.

In response, in 2025 Ireland is providing €3 million in funding to the UN OCHA-managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund which works to support the strategic priorities identified in the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Afghanistan, included the specific needs of women and girls. We are also providing €1 million to the UNHCR Afghanistan Refugee Regional Response which supports Afghan refugees and host communities in neighbouring states, including in their work to provide educational assistance to Afghan women and girls.

In line with the commitment in "Securing our Future", Ireland will remain active in ensuring the appalling human rights situation confronting women and girls and marginalised groups within Afghanistan continues to receive appropriate international attention, including through coordination with our EU and like-minded international partners.