UK envoy says male support for girls’ education “vital” in Afghanistan

The UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, has described male support for girls’ education as “vital” for Afghanistan’s future, following the awarding of the Freedom Prize 2026 to education activist Matiullah Wesa.

In a statement on X, Lindsay congratulated Wesa and said his recognition serves as a reminder that Afghan men continue to stand up for the rights of women and girls, particularly their access to education, which he described as essential for national progress.

The Freedom Prize 2026 was awarded by France’s Normandy region after a global voting process involving 18,708 young people from 75 countries, who selected Wesa as this year’s laureate.

Wesa is the founder of the Pen Path organisation, which works with thousands of volunteers to promote education in Afghanistan, especially in remote and underserved communities where access to schooling remains limited.

He has previously been detained by the Taliban due to his education advocacy, reflecting the broader risks faced by activists working on girls’ schooling in the country.

Afghanistan remains the only country where secondary and higher education for girls and women is severely restricted, a policy that has drawn sustained international criticism and limited humanitarian engagement with the authorities.

The restrictions have contributed to a widening humanitarian and economic crisis, with aid organisations warning that reduced access to education, employment, and basic services is deepening poverty and increasing long-term instability across the country.

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