WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday appointed two special envoys for defending women’s rights in Afghanistan as the country’s new Taliban autocrats further tensed gender restrictions.
Rina Amiri, an Afghan-born US scholar, and agreement expert who served at the State Department under former chairman Barack Obama will take the part of special envoy for Afghan women, girls, and mortal rights.
Stephenie Foster, also a former State Department functionary with different public and private sector gests, will be the new Senior Advisor for Women and Girls Issues in the office of the Fellow for Afghan Relocation Sweats ( CARE).
“ Two largely good and reputed leaders will advance the State Department’s vital work to support Afghan women, girls, and mortal rights,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement issued by his office.
Mr. Blinken said that Ms. Amiri will address issues of “ critical significance to me” and the rest of President Joe Biden’s administration. “ We ask a peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan, where all Afghans can live and thrive in political, profitable, and social inclusivity,” he added.
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Before this week, the Taliban assessed new restrictions, banning women from working and limiting their access to education. The moves go against the pledges the Taliban made after their Aug 15 preemption when they promised a moderate policy on similar issues.
The new rules help women from traveling long distances without a manly companion and prohibit vehicle possessors from giving lifts to women unless they wear headscarves.
On Monday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also expressed his concern about this new development. “ Saying that women can’t travel alone or go to seminaries and sodalities — this kind of retrogressive thinking is a peril for Pakistan,” he said at a public meeting in Islamabad.
Secretary Blinken said Ms. Amiri “ will work nearly with me” on issues like “ abecedarian freedoms of women, girls, and other at-threat populations in all of their diversity.”
Special Envoy Amiri’s important work will be rounded by the benefactions of Stephenie Foster, he added.
