Press Release
☷Secretary Antony J Blinken At the Alliance for Afghan Women s Economic Resilience Summit United States Department of State
U.S. Department of State ( By Press Release office)
Feb 29,2024
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Hey there , everyone! Welcome to the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit . Today , we ' re here to shed light on the challenges Afghan women are facing and the incredible strength they ' re showing in fighting for their rights . We ' ve launched the Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Initiative to support their education , employment , and entrepreneurship . Throughout the event , you ' ll hear from our partners and Afghan women themselves about the initiatives we ' ve put in place . We hope you ' ll join us in this important effort . And now , please give a warm welcome to U . S . Secretary of State Antony Blinken . Thank you . ( Applause . ) SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you . Good morning , everyone . Welcome to the State Department . Hey Special Envoy Amiri , Rina , I just wanted to give a shoutout to you and your teams for the amazing work you ' re doing every day to support Afghan women and girls . It ' s a tough situation , but today gives us some hope . Thanks to our leadership team and Boston University , we ' re launching the Alliance for Afghan Women ' s Economic Resilience next year . Despite the oppressive Taliban regime , we ' re seeing results and making a difference through public - private partnerships . We ' re investing in skills , training , job opportunities , and supporting women entrepreneurs . This mission is more important than ever . The Taliban continues to restrict women ' s rights , denying them education and economic opportunities , but these restrictions go against the will of the Afghan people . Surveys show that the majority of Afghans believe in equal access to education for women . These restrictions are also holding back Afghanistan ' s potential . If women were able to learn and work , the whole country would benefit . Not allowing women to reach their full potential is a loss for Afghanistan . Despite the obstacles , women and girls are determined to study , chart their own path , and contribute to their communities . So , I was in the elevator with Rina , and I was telling her about a meeting I had in Albania a couple weeks ago . Albania has been a huge help in getting Afghan partners out of Afghanistan and to the US . I met a young family there who were determined to keep their kids in school , even after the Taliban took over in Afghanistan . The daughters , who were twins and 14 years old , were really determined to learn and succeed , despite the challenges they faced . It was inspiring to see their dedication to education . Many countries , including Indonesia and Qatar , are working together to support Afghan women and girls in their education and work opportunities . The US is proud to be a part of these efforts , including the Alliance for Afghanistan Women ' s Economic Resilience . Boston University has played a huge role , and we ' re really grateful for their partnership . They ' ve helped us design initiatives based on research and consultations with Afghan women leaders , making sure the programs are accessible for everyone . Now , we ' re excited to tell you about three new programs we ' re starting . First , we ' ll offer virtual training and skills courses for Afghan women worldwide , so they can get jobs and earn money . We ' ve partnered with the Qatari Government , Education Above All , and Coursera to provide technical job training classes . Microsoft and LinkedIn will also offer certifications and help connect women with employers . Second , we ' re providing scholarships for Afghan women refugees in the US to finish their degrees . And third , we ' re supporting Afghan women entrepreneurs with free online courses and training in subjects like financial literacy and digital marketing . We want to help them scale up their businesses and create jobs . Lastly , we ' ll continue offering mentorship opportunities for Afghan women in their fields . This support has already made a big difference , and we want to reach even more women . These initiatives are part of our broader efforts to support the people of Afghanistan , not just women and girls . We ' ve provided food , medical care , and humanitarian aid , and we ' ve worked with amazing Afghan women leaders . There are so many opportunities ahead . Even in these tough times , there are plenty of opportunities for all of us in this room to support and work together with these women and others like them . Whether you ' re from the private sector , academia , civil society , or government , we invite you to join us in our mission to help Afghan women and girls reach their full potential and create a better future for themselves and their country . Thank you for being here today . ( Applause ) Thank you .
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