RASC News Agency: Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Women, Girls, and Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called upon Afghanistani men to stand alongside the women of their nation, supporting their wives, daughters, and sisters in fostering a hopeful and sustainable future for Afghanistan. In an open letter, Amiri stressed the pivotal role of men in empowering women and girls, underscoring that such support is not only essential but can pave the way for meaningful change.
Addressing non-governmental organizations, Amiri remarked that the global community faces a profound test. Abandoning Afghanistani women and girls, she warned, would jeopardize the advancement of women’s rights worldwide, far beyond Afghanistan’s borders. She implored the international community to uphold its commitment to Afghanistani women and girls, expressing confidence in their ultimate victory despite the oppressive circumstances they currently face. Amiri highlighted that Afghanistani women have repeatedly endured and risen above adversity throughout the nation’s tumultuous history.
To secure their empowerment, Amiri emphasized the necessity of collective action. She urged Afghanistani men, both within the country and abroad, to support the women in their lives and work collectively toward building a brighter, more inclusive future for Afghanistan. Amiri also called for the international community to maintain its focus on human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls, in all engagements with the Taliban. In her letter, she insisted that any advancement in diplomatic or economic relations with the Taliban must be contingent upon tangible steps to reverse the extremist policies targeting women and girls.
She further appealed to UN member states, donor organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to bolster the resilience and ingenuity of Afghanistani women and girls by providing them with the resources, technology, education, and economic opportunities they need to thrive. “As long as the dreams of Afghanistani women and girls are stifled, Afghanistan will remain shrouded in darkness,” Amiri stated. “The journey ahead is arduous, but despair and surrender are not options.” Her remarks come amid the Taliban’s ongoing crackdown on women’s rights, including banning them from schools, universities, and workplaces. These draconian measures have provoked widespread condemnation from both Afghanistani citizens and the international community.
