The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE BURNING OF AFGHAN SCHOOLS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1026 on June 6, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE BURNING OF AFGHAN SCHOOLS
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HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep concern about reports that schools in Afghanistan continue to be destroyed. I recently met with Dr. Sima Samar, chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, who reported to me that since 2005, dozens of schools have been burned. Dr. Samar works courageously every day, under threat of personal attack, to ensure that the rights of Afghan citizens, including women and children, are protected. I strongly agree with her that to truly be empowered, Afghan women and girls must be educated.
I urge the U.S. State Department to take immediate action to ensure that Afghan children and women can be educated without fear of violence. This is truly vital to the future of Afghanistan. Although the lives of some women are improving, for far too many, the situation has remained the same. They continue to endure hardships including targeted violence, limited mobility, illiteracy, and a high rate of maternal mortality. By giving women access to the skills and opportunities that they need to become partners in creating Afghanistan's future, we will ensure that women will no longer be second-class citizens. We cannot afford to wait.
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