WASHINGTON: The US on Wednesday appointed an envoy to protect the rights of Afghan women, indicating the lifting of sanctions by the Taliban as a major priority.
Reena Amiri, an Afghan-American scholar and mediation expert who served in the State Department under former President Barack Obama, will take on the role of Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.
Months after the United States ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan, Blinken said Amiri would address issues of “critical importance to me” and the rest of President Joe Biden’s administration.
“We want a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan, where all Afghans can live and thrive in political, economic and social inclusion,” Blinken said in a statement.
The Taliban imposed an ultra-rigorous brand of Islam on Afghanistan during their 1996–2001 rule, including banning women from working and girls’ education.
Despite the Taliban’s pledge to work differently after the August takeover, many women have been barred from returning to work and girls have been largely cut off from secondary education.
On Sunday, the Taliban said women would not be allowed to travel long distances without a male escort and vehicle owners should not allow women to ride unless they wore a head scarf.