Richardson Secures Peace Talks in Afghanistan, No News on Women

U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson said he “made progress on women’s education and health care,” during talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban militia group officials, but would not elaborate according to an AP news report. Since the Taliban gained control of the country in 1996 they have initiated decrees forbidding girls from obtaining education and requiring women to be accompanied by a brother, husband or son. Women and girls who defy the orders risk being shot or stoned as punishment.

Richardson spoke with the Taliban’s acting President Mullah Mohammed Rabbani in an effort to secure peace between warring factions in Afghanistan. Richardson said Rabbani pledged to participate in Afghan peace talks, stop all military action until the talks, and to release prisoners of war by Saturday.

Feminist News Stories on Afghanistan

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Media Resources: AP - April 17, 1998

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