The United States has taken action to impose additional visa restrictions on current or former Taliban members, members of non-state security groups, and other individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, repressing women and girls in Afghanistan. Immediate family members may also be subject to these visa restrictions, enacted under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The Taliban’s most recent edicts ban women from public and private universities and from working at non-governmental organizations, and further the Taliban’s previous measures that closed secondary schools to girls and limited the ability of women and girls to participate in the Afghan society and economy. “Through these decisions, the Taliban have again shown their disregard for the welfare of the Afghan people,” declared Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.
So far, the Taliban’s actions have forced over one million school-aged Afghan girls and young women out of the classroom and countless women out of universities and the workforce. These numbers will only grow as time goes on, worsening the country’s already dire economic and humanitarian crises. “Women’s and girls’ quality, safe, and inclusive education and workforce participation is essential to growing and strengthening economies, reducing inequality, and fostering stability,” said Secretary Blinken. He warned that “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.”
“We continue to coordinate closely with allies and partners around the world on an approach that makes clear to the Taliban that their actions will carry significant costs and close the path to improved relations with the international community,” said Secretary Blinken.”
Indeed, “the Taliban’s decisions have already prevented the delivery of crucial aid during what has been a period of freezing temperatures and economic hardship,” said Nicholas Hill, U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council:
“We will continue to support the essential inclusion of female staff in the full cycle of aid delivery in Afghanistan and full, safe, and unhindered access to the most vulnerable populations – including women and girls.”
“The United States,” said Secretary Blinken, “stands with the Afghan people and remains committed to doing all we can to promote and advance respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls.”
