CNN
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The United States is implementing new visa restrictions on sure present and previous Taliban contributors, non-state safety staff contributors and others who’re believed to be excited by repressing the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced on Wednesday.
The announcement comes greater than a month after the Taliban introduced bans on girls attending universities and dealing with non-governmental organizations. Blinken cited the ones choices as contributing to the brand new visa bans and stated the United States condemns the movements in “the strongest of terms.”
“The Taliban’s most recent edicts ban women from universities and from working with NGOs, and further the Taliban’s previous measures that closed secondary schools to girls and limit the ability of women and girls to participate in the Afghan society and economy,” Blinken stated in a State Department observation.
“Through these decisions, the Taliban have again shown their disregard for the welfare of the Afghan people,” he added.
The State Department observation didn’t title those that are impacted through the transfer.
Blinken referenced different movements through the Taliban that experience undermined the rights of girls and women because the staff took keep an eye on of the rustic after the chaotic US army withdrawal in 2021.
“So far, the Taliban’s actions have forced over one million school-aged Afghan girls and young women out of the classroom, with more women out of universities and countless Afghan women out of the workforce. These numbers will only grow as time goes on, worsening the country’s already dire economic and humanitarian crises,” Blinken stated.
Deeming equivalent get right of entry to to schooling and paintings an “essential component to the vitality and resiliency of entire populations,” Blinken stated those steps will harm the Taliban’s status globally.
“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,” Blinken stated.
Blinken dedicated as soon as once more to operating along allies to impose “significant costs” at the Taliban’s movements.
