UNICEF Names Photo of Afghan Girl Studying as 2025 Picture of the Year
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that a photograph of an Afghan girl studying has been selected as the organization’s Photo of the Year for 2025. The image was captured in a remote village in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan and highlights global attention on the state of girls’ education. According to UNICEF, the photograph was taken by French photojournalist Alice Blanchard and depicts a girl named Hajira who continues her education despite numerous restrictions. The organization emphasized that the image symbolizes the silent but persistent resilience of millions of Afghan girls. On Friday, December 19, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that for many girls in Afghanistan, childhood comes with the struggle to access education — a fundamental right. She added that deprivation of education endangers the future of generations. After the Taliban regained power in 2021, widespread restrictions were imposed on girls’ education; initially, education beyond the sixth grade was banned, followed by a halt to studies at higher and intermediate levels. Despite both domestic and international pressure, the Taliban administration has yet to show any clear signs of revising these policies — a situation that continues to draw criticism from human rights and educational organizations.
