Letter to Hon. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State; Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Department of Homeland Security; Hon. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services; and Hon. Llyod J. Austing III, Secretary of Department of Defense - Collins, Klobuchar Urge Biden Administration to Prioritize Resources for Afghan Women Refugees

Letter

Dear Secretary Blinken, Secretary Mayorkas, Secretary Becerra, and Secretary Austin:

We support the continuing international and interagency evacuation efforts to safely bring American citizens, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, Priority 1 and 2 designees, vulnerable Afghans, and their families to the United States. As you seek to help Afghan evacuees resettle, we ask that you prioritize the needs of women and marginalized groups in the evacuation and resettlement process.

The United States has worked for the past 20 years to help educate, empower, and support women in business ventures, political roles, and other social opportunities in Afghanistan. With the Taliban in power, many women have been forced to evacuate to protect themselves and their loved ones. Those leading the evacuation efforts must consider how women's livelihoods, health, employment, and social participation have been impacted by leaving their homes. For example, the Department of Defense confirmed that at least three women delivered babies during the evacuation. We must ensure that women and girls have access to the resources they need. This includes providing obstetrician services to pregnant women, psychosocial support to help women process trauma and the change in their circumstance, child medical and educational care, mitigation procedures for sexual assault and financial predation, and help with family reunification.

In order to live up to our commitment to support Afghan refugees, we must offer significant focus to women's needs in the evacuation and relocation process. We look forward to working with you to help women evacuees relocate safely and with the support they need. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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