[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 694 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 694

Condemning the inhumane treatment and human rights abuses toward women 
    and girls in Afghanistan by Taliban forces through their strict 
                     interpretation of Sharia law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2021

Mr. Norman (for himself, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mrs. Bice of Oklahoma) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the inhumane treatment and human rights abuses toward women 
    and girls in Afghanistan by Taliban forces through their strict 
                     interpretation of Sharia law.

Whereas when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 1996, their 
        interpretation of Sharia law facilitated several oppressive social, 
        political, and religious freedoms against women and girls;
Whereas, in 2001, the Taliban relinquished power in Afghanistan ensuring more 
        rights for women were set to return;
Whereas, in 2004, women were once again given the right to vote in elections, 
        and girls and women joined the army and police forces, trained as 
        surgeons and judges, and worked as journalists among many other 
        professions previously prohibited to them;
Whereas, in 2009, the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) became law in 
        Afghanistan facilitating a rise in holding those accountable for abuses 
        against women, and shining a light on the atrocities plaguing women in 
        the nation;
Whereas the Elimination of Violence Against Women makes 22 acts of abuse toward 
        women criminal offenses, including rape, battery, forced marriage, 
        preventing women from owning property, and prohibiting women and girls 
        from attending school or working;
Whereas, despite progress made toward improving basic human rights for women and 
        girls, many cases of rape, sexual abuse, strict dress codes, 
        restrictions on women and girls' movement, and the exchanging of girls 
        and young women to settle disputes or repay debts continued in rural 
        areas of Afghanistan;
Whereas when the Taliban seized control on August 15, 2021, they insisted nearly 
        all women stay away from work until the security situation improves, and 
        security issues were one of the reasons the Taliban gave when they 
        controlled Afghanistan in the 1990s to prevent women from working;
Whereas, on August 24, 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human 
        Rights ``received credible reports of serious violations of 
        international human law, and human rights abuses taking place in many 
        areas under effective Taliban control'' including executions of 
        civilians and members of the Afghan national security forces, 
        restrictions on the rights of women and girls to move around freely and 
        attend schools, the recruitment of child soldiers, and repression of 
        peaceful protest and expressions of dissent;
Whereas though the Taliban stated the new Taliban government was more 
        progressive toward women's rights, there was not a single woman in the 
        new cabinet and Taliban officials announced women could only study at 
        universities in gender-segregated classrooms while adhering to 
        traditional, strict Islamic dress;
Whereas, in early September 2021, women were marching peacefully chanting ``we 
        want equal rights, we want women in government'' before the Taliban 
        arrived and began beating the women with whips and batons emitting 
        electric shocks;
Whereas the Elimination of Violence Against Women law implemented by the former 
        democratic Government of Afghanistan should remain intact to combat 
        discriminatory and violent offenses against women and girls in 
        Afghanistan; and
Whereas a Taliban-dominated government under their interpretation of Sharia law 
        threatens international legal protections for the fundamental rights of 
        Afghan women and girls, who play a vital role in civil society: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns any actions taken by any terrorist 
        organization or form of government in Afghanistan to oppress 
        women and girls;
            (2) demands the Taliban regime preserve and advance the 
        right to liberty, freedom of movement, education, self-
        expression, and employment for all women and girls, guided by 
        international human rights principles; and
            (3) recognizes that the protection of civilians, especially 
        women and girls, and religious minority groups in Afghanistan 
        remain of paramount concern both domestically and 
        internationally.
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