RASC News Agency: Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, in his latest statements, voiced support for the UN Secretary-General’s criticism of the Taliban’s policies against Afghanistani women. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, previously stated that over 50 decrees issued by the Taliban against Afghanistani women and girls aim to suppress them.
Miller addressed this issue in a press briefing on Thursday, Mar 14, denouncing the suppression and imposition of restrictions on Afghanistani women as “horrific and intolerable.” Miller added that the United States condemns the Taliban’s systematic discrimination and mistreatment of Afghanistani women. He pointed out that Afghanistan is the only country where women are deprived of the right to work, resulting in significant financial losses for the country’s economy.
The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State emphasized that any steps taken to normalize relations with the Taliban depend on respecting the rights of all Afghanistanis. He added, “No other country denies girls the right to education and the right to work to support their families.” Miller explained that the Taliban’s policies would seriously harm Afghanistan’s economy, which is already grappling with poverty and crisis.
He stressed, “Education is vital for Afghanistan’s economic, political, and social development. The exclusion of women from the workforce has inflicted significant damage on Afghanistan’s economy.” According to the United Nations Development Programme’s estimate, restricting women’s access to the workforce costs Afghanistan about one billion dollars annually.
