The War of Afghanistan was a 20-year war caused by the September 11 attacks in the United States. It ended in 2021 when the U.S., along with other countries, withdrew all of their troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war with the Taliban, a terrorist group.

Since 2021, the Taliban have used their power to regain control of the Afghan government. This includes returning laws to the way they were from 1996 to 2001, otherwise known as the last time the Taliban ruled.  

The majority of these laws are targeting women and girls. Some rulings include closing all beauty salons, banning women from attending parks, and stopping girls from gaining secondary education.

These laws are threatening to not only the country of Afghanistan, but also to the equality of women and girls worldwide. If nothing happens for these individuals, gender inequality will be normalized in other countries that are suffering from similar issues.

While many people do acknowledge this problem with the Taliban, there needs to be a focus on this humanitarian crisis. Human rights for women and girls should be the focal point of saving the country of Afghanistan. 

I am urging the citizens of Ithaca, New York, to speak up about this issue. 

The mayor of Ithaca currently is Robert G. Cantelmo. We should make him aware of the issue and our strong opinions on this crisis across the globe. I want the people of Ithaca to come together and ask him for a statement on this matter. 

The United States were a vital part of the removal of the Taliban for 20 years. We can do that again in order to save Afghan women and girls, but the government needs to hear our voices.

Cantelmo has power in local government. If he hears the people, he will talk to others in his political circle. The issue will keep spreading around to other politicians and will increase our chances of American aid. 

Please consider signing this petition to stop the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. These women and girls need your help; without it, they will continue to be shunned. The more people decide to sign this, the more chance we'll have of Robert G. Cantelmo taking this seriously and speaking out about our cause!

 

Picture Credit:

AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

https://apnews.com/article/mental-health-afghan-women-un-report-c0db1ebeb1506746c961c92fd67174c1