The following resolution was passed in July 2000 at the biennial AFT convention.

WHEREAS, human rights have been greatly abused by the imposition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan by the Taliban armed militia; and

WHEREAS, women in Afghanistan are invisible due to the Taliban forcing them to be confined to their homes and requiring that they be completely covered from head to toe and silent when allowed out in public; and

WHEREAS, Afghan women, many of whom are educated and were employed, are now forbidden by the Taliban to work, to attend school and are denied medical care; and

WHEREAS, the ban on women being employed has thrown thousands of families into destitution as many women are the sole source of support for their families:
RESOLVED, that the AFT encourage the AFL-CIO to urge the U.S. government and the United Nations to not recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government in Afghanistan and not allow the Taliban access to a U.N. seat; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and the AFL-CIO urge the U.S. government and United Nations to do everything in their power to restore women’s rights to employment, education, health care and safety; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and the AFL-CIO ask the U.S. government to urge Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to stop supporting the Taliban and to discourage U.S. corporate interests from conducting business with the Taliban.

(2000)