US House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Bill on Afghan Women with Bipartisan Support

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a bill addressing restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan with bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans.

US Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove confirmed the bill's passage, sharing photos on X with Afghan female students. Afghanistan International referred to the legislation as the "Countering the Erasure of Women and Girls in Afghanistan," approved on March 26 and advancing to the full House. The bill would require the State Department to report within 180 days on Taliban restrictions, potentially classifying them as crimes against humanity.

Hasht-e Subh described the bill as "Reject the Elimination of Afghan Women and Girls," noting its approval on April 11. Both outlets highlighted the bipartisan backing and the context of Taliban-imposed curbs on Afghan women's basic rights, including education, since their takeover.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast stated the bill holds the Taliban accountable amid increased suffering for Afghan women and girls. Florida state Representative Randy Fine called the Taliban an "evil and violent regime" for its treatment of women and girls.

The measure underscores global concerns over the plight of Afghan women under Taliban control.