Title: A resolution recognizing the devastating attack on a girls' school in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 8, 2021, and expressing solidarity with the Afghan people.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution expresses the Senate's condolences to the people of Afghanistan and the Hazara, an ethnic minority community in Afghanistan. The resolution also condemns all forms of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan and supports U.S. and international efforts to ensure that girls in Afghanistan can safely attend school.
(On May 8, 2021, a bomb attack at the Sayed Ul-Shuhada High School in Kabul killed more than 85 people.)

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 229 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 229

    Recognizing the devastating attack on a girls' school in Kabul, 
Afghanistan, on May 8, 2021, and expressing solidarity with the Afghan 
                                people.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2021

  Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the devastating attack on a girls' school in Kabul, 
Afghanistan, on May 8, 2021, and expressing solidarity with the Afghan 
                                people.

Whereas, on May 8, 2021, a car bomb and several other mechanisms were detonated 
        at the front gates of the Sayed Ul-Shuhada High School in Kabul, killing 
        more than 85 people, many of whom were girls attending the school;
Whereas the attack took place as the girls and their families prepared to 
        celebrate Eid al-Fitr;
Whereas the school provides education to the Dasht-e Barchi neighborhood, an 
        underserved area of Kabul where many members of the Hazara minority 
        community live;
Whereas the Hazara in Dasht-e Barchi have been the target of extremist violence 
        for many years;
Whereas, on March 12, 2020, assailants attacked a maternity hospital in Dasht-e 
        Barchi, killing 24 people including 2 newborn babies, mothers, and 
        members of the hospital staff;
Whereas 1 of those killed in the attack on the hospital was Maryam Noorzad--

    (1) who was a midwife serving the Hazara community;

    (2) who dedicated her life to providing access to healthcare to women 
in remote parts of Afghanistan;

    (3) who was murdered after refusing to leave the bedside of a patient 
in labor; and

    (4) whose bravery was recognized by the Department of State with an 
honorary International Women of Courage award;

Whereas Afghan girls were restricted from accessing an education under the 
        Taliban, forcing some girls to dress up as boys in order to attend 
        secret schools and continue their education;
Whereas, according to a report by the Office of the Director of National 
        Intelligence--

    (1) there are approximately 3,500,000 girls among the 9,000,000 
children who are enrolled in school in Afghanistan;

    (2) only 17 percent of girls in rural parts of Afghanistan attend 
school, while 45 percent of girls in urban areas in Afghanistan attend 
school;

    (3) 80 percent of Afghan women older than 15 years of age are 
illiterate; and

    (4) schools are increasingly being forced to close due to rising 
insecurity;

Whereas the education of girls is a necessary requirement for any country to 
        achieve long-term stability and peace;
Whereas the attack coincides with an escalation of violence in Afghanistan, 
        perpetrated by the Taliban, the Islamic State of Iraq, and the Levant 
        (ISIS) and other terrorist organizations; and
Whereas the recent escalation in violence has disproportionately impacted women, 
        who have been targeted while working as reporters, administering 
        vaccines, serving in prominent positions, and helping their communities: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) extends its heartfelt condolences to, and stands with, 
        the people of Afghanistan and the Hazara community;
            (2) condemns all forms of violence against women and girls 
        in Afghanistan;
            (3) supports United States and international efforts to 
        ensure that girls in Afghanistan are able to safely attend 
        school;
            (4) affirms that the United States should continue to 
        provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls to 
        achieve an education;
            (5) calls on the Government of Afghanistan to support 
        girls' education and to ensure that girls are able to safely 
        attend school;
            (6) calls for international condemnation of violence 
        against Afghan women and girls; and
            (7) asks the international community to devote the 
        resources and attention necessary to provide for the continued 
        safe education of girls in Afghanistan.
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