The US secretary of state criticized the limitations imposed on Afghan women and called them a violation of human rights.

Speaking at the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit,

Antony Blinken said that the “Taliban” decrees are violating human rights and their principle freedoms, which are against the will of the Afghan people.

He said that women’s access to work can contribute up to one billion dollars to Afghanistan’s economy.

“The Taliban restrictions are also suffocating Afghanistan’s potential. If women and girls were able to learn, able to work, the whole country would benefit. Women could put food on their table, they would add over a billion dollars to the Afghan economy. Equal opportunity is a prerequisite for sustainable peace and sustainable security, so all these contributions will help a more resilient society. This is Afghanistan’s loss that women and girls are not allowed to reach their full potential,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken added that the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience will launch three programs for Afghan women.

“First, the alliance will provide virtual training and skills-building courses for Afghan women around the world so that they can get jobs and earn an income. Second, the United States and the Education Above All foundation will provide scholarships so Afghan women refugees in the United States can finish their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Finally, the alliance will continue providing opportunities for Afghan women around the world to work with mentors in their fields,” said Blinken.

“If such programs are implanted by those women who are inside the country, and the vulnerable women are concentrated upon, this will be better,” said Salma Yousufzai, head of women’s chamber of commerce and industry. 

In the meantime, the US special envoy for Afghan human rights and women at the gathering said that the US and the international community is committed to supporting Afghan women.

“First, Afghan women and girls are not asking us to see them as victims, they are asking you to recognize their dignified struggle for their rights. Two, they want us to engage them as partners and three, they ask us to be guided by their creativity, their resilience and their determination,” said the US special envoy for Afghan human rights and women, Rina Amiri.

It has been 898 days since girls’ schools beyond sixth grade have been closed and 890 days since the Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate announced ban on Afghan women’s employment in NGOs.