UN Security Council members in a statement on Friday condemned the recent decision by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) that reversed its commitment to allow all girls to return to schools.

The statement was delivered by the envoys of the United Arab Emirates and Norway, on behalf of Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ireland, Mexico, UK, US, Norway and UAE.

UAE Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said that “all girls in Afghanistan should be able to get to school,” and that “education is a universal right for all children.”

“This week, more than a million Afghan girls were getting ready to finally be able to return to school. Their hopes were dashed at the last minute, at the school gates, when they learned that their right to an education will continue to be denied through an arbitrary decision,” she said.

Nusseibeh said that the decision is a “profoundly disturbing setback.”

“Education is a universal right for all children. That includes the girls of Afghanistan,” she said.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Ambassador Mona Juul said that Afghanistan is at the brink of collapse.

“In order for Afghanistan to secure a safe and stable future, it simply cannot miss out on the talent and potential and deprive half of its population of education. Education is the key building block of every society,” Juul said.

She continued: “By this statement, members of the Security Council send a unified message to the Taliban to open the schools for all and to provide a safe learning environment for all children and youth in the country.”

Juul also said that the international community stands ready to continue supporting Afghan people including education for all children.

“More than one million of girls in Afghanistan were left at home in tears this week. We cannot let them down,” she said.