U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recently presided over the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit, discussing new partnerships to promote entrepreneurship, employment, and education for Afghan women. His speech primarily centered on the resilience demonstrated by the country's women and girls.

According to a news release, approximately two and a half years have passed since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. During this period, women and girls have been instructed to remain at home, abstaining from work and school. Rina Amiri, U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, equated these measures to women being deprived of their professions.

Amiri said: "As a parent, imagine looking into the eyes of your 12-year-old and telling her that she can no longer go to school and the door to her hopes and her dreams have closed." She continued: "As a spouse or family member, imagine seeing the potential of the women and girls in your family squandered. As a citizen, imagine half of your population’s participation potential and economic contribution erased overnight."

The news release also indicated that life has become increasingly difficult for women in Afghanistan due to heightened oppression by the Taliban. "One, 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," Amiri said. "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."

The summit was also attended by Ambassador-at-Large Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Special Representative Thomas West and Assistant Secretary Donald Lu; all spearheading efforts to uphold the rights of Afghan women.

Blinken stated: "The Taliban’s restrictions are also suffocating Afghanistan’s potential. If women and girls were able to learn, able to work, the whole country would benefit." He added: "Women could put food on their family’s tables, they would add over a billion dollars to the Afghan economy. Economic opportunity is a prerequisite for sustainable peace and sustainable security, so women’s contributions would also help create a more resilient society. This is Afghanistan’s loss if women and girls are not allowed to reach their full potential."