Baldwin Joins All Female Senators in Bipartisan Letter to President: Protect Afghan Women and Girls

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined all 24 female senators in a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden calling on him to protect the rights of Afghan women and girls following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In a letter to the President, the senators wrote, “In the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, we write to urge your Administration to develop an interagency plan to preserve the political, economic, social, and basic human rights of Afghan women and girls.”

They continue, “Last year an estimated 3.5 million girls were in school, with 100,000 women enrolled in public and private universities. Women also began to succeed in business and government…However, lacking a legitimate Afghan government and military forces to protect them, women and girls are now suffering the predations of a Taliban regime with a track record of brutalizing, isolating, and denying them life and liberty.”

“You have committed to press the Taliban to uphold the rights of women and girls, and you have stated that America will maintain an enduring partnership with the people of Afghanistan resisting Taliban rule. We will advise, support, and enable those efforts through legislation and engagement with your Administration. Afghan women and girls need our action now.”

To read the full letter, click here.

In addition to Baldwin, the letter is signed by every female U.S. Senator, including Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).