Women in Afghanistan
Hearing Notice
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on women in Afghanistan. Ten years after the overthrow of the Taliban, Afghan women are increasingly finding their rights and freedoms under threat. In the face of rising violence, women and girls are losing access to education and the chance to participate in public and political life. In the south and southeast, hundreds of girls’ schools have been attacked and closed as the insurgency has grown in strength. In Taliban-held areas, women have been threatened to stop working and return to their homes.
This hearing will examine the impact of the conflict on women. In particular, the hearing will address political reconciliation with the Taliban and the implications for women; U.S. humanitarian aid projects affecting women, and the recent attacks on women’s shelters. As Afghan women continue to endure challenges, it is essential that their interests are considered and that they are actively involved in shaping a more peaceful future for Afghanistan.
If you have any questions, please contact Lars de Gier (Rep. McGovern) or Gary Oba (Rep. Wolf) at 202-225-3599.
Hosted by:
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Opening Remarks
- Rep. James P. McGovern, Co-Chair, TLHRC
Written remarks
Witnesses
Panel I
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Rina Amiri, Senior Advisor on Afghanistan for the Office of the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. Department of State
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Don Steinberg, Deputy administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
Written testimony
Panel II
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Joanne Sandler, Deputy Director, UN Women
Written testimony
Panel III
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David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
Written testimony -
The Honorable Marzia Basel, Founder and Director, Afghan Women's Judges Association
Written testimony