Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) condemning the recent devastating attack on a girls’ school in Kabul that killed over 85 people and injured 150 more. The resolution expresses U.S. solidarity with Afghan women and girls amid the recent surge in violence, condemns all forms of violence targeting women, and supports international efforts to ensure Afghan girls can safely attend school.
“The planned withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan threatens the progress that has been made for Afghan women and girls since Taliban rule ended in 2001. The recent escalation of violence in the country, including this deadly attack on a girl’s school in Kabul, is despicable. The United States must hold terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan accountable,” said Senator Collins. “The Senate’s passage of our bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that the United States will not tolerate these vicious acts of violence and will direct resources to ensure Afghan women and girls continue to have access to educational and professional opportunities.”
“The international community cannot sit idly by as women and girls in Afghanistan once again become the targets of extremist violence as they were under Taliban rule twenty years ago. The recent bombing in Kabul murdered 85 people, mostly girls, for daring to seek an education. The United States and our international partners must stand against this brutality,” said Senator Shaheen. “My bipartisan resolution condemning this attack and urging international support for Afghan women and girls just passed the Senate, and sends a clear message that protecting women and girls must be a U.S. policy priority as the withdrawal from Afghanistan continues. I’ll continue to engage with the Biden administration to safeguard Afghan women’s hard-fought gains and to shield them from escalating violence.”
Earlier this month, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging President Biden to take immediate action to ensure women’s rights and safety are protected in the wake of the pending U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. In addition, Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, participated in a hearing in April where she questioned Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines about the consequences of the Administration withdrawing all American troops from Afghanistan by September 11th.
Click HERE to read the full text of the resolution.
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