MD. Zakira Hekmat, the founder and President of Afghan Refugees Solidarity Association, recently met with Mr. Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, to discuss her concerns about the situation of Afghan refugees and women in Afghanistan. During the meeting, Mrs. Hekmat emphasized the urgent need for the United States and the international community to take action on these issues.

Mrs. Hekmat expressed her concern that it has been almost two years since girls have been deprived of attending school or university, and women have been banned from working in government offices and more recently, from working in relief organizations.