Secretary of State Antony Blinken imposed visa restrictions Feb. 1 on individuals including Taliban members responsible for repressing women and girls in Afghanistan.
The State Department estimates the Taliban's arbitrary policies have removed more than 1 million young Afghan women from the classroom, according to a State Department news release.
"We took actions today to promote accountability among Taliban leaders behind edicts banning women from universities and working with NGOs. We stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan and call for their access to education and careers to be restored,” Blinken said in a post on Twitter.
Many women have been forced out of the workforce and those numbers will grow, which will worsen the country’s dire economic and humanitarian crises, the release reported.
“Women’s and girls’ quality, safe and inclusive education and workforce participation is essential to growing and strengthening economies, reducing inequality and fostering stability,” Blinken said in the release. ”Equal access to education and work is also an essential component to the vitality and resiliency of entire populations, including all adults and children, regardless of gender.”
These restrictions, imposed on certain current or former Taliban members, non-state security groups and other individuals who are believed to be responsible for repressing women and girls in Afghanistan, align with the United States' commitment to facilitate and foster respect for the moral and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls, he said in the release.
“The Taliban cannot expect the respect and support of the international community until they respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls,” Blinken said in the release.
