SENATOR COLLINS QUESTIONS SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON ABOUT WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Susan Collins today participated in a hearing to examine the President's $83.4 billion spending request to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Included in this bill is $7.1 billion for stabilization activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Initially, after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the position of Afghan girls and women improved dramatically. But, troubled by a controversial new law that restricts women's freedom, Senator Collins expressed her concern that women's rights are now being rolled back.

"We have seen President Karzai sign a highly repressive law that, among other provisions, actually legalizes marital rape, it's troubling to me that the American taxpayers are being asked to ramp up assistance to Afghanistan at a time when the treatment of girls and women is becoming more repressive," said Senator Collins.

Senator Collins asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whether the United States is conditioning additional assistance on any standards for the treatment of girls and women. Secretary Clinton echoed Senator Collins' concerns and testified that the U.S. would make it clear that our country, and our allies, would not tolerate the mistreatment of Afghan women and girls.

The Senate Appropriations Committee also heard testimony from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.