Washington, Dec 7 : The United States should do more to support Afghan women and their right to education and work, Nobel Peace Prize awardee and human rights activist Malala Yousafzai told Secretary of State Antony Blinken here.

Yousafzai met Blinken and other officials at the State Department on Monday. She urged the US to work more towards girls’ access to education in Afghanistan.

Before the meeting behind closed doors, Blinken described Yousafzai as “truly an inspiration — an inspiration to us, an inspiration to girls and women around the world” and as someone “making a real difference,” particularly when it comes to education, ABC News reported.

“So, I’m very much looking forward to talking to her about the work that she’s doing, the work that we’re doing, and to hear from her, her ideas about how to be more effective at making sure — as we’re working for gender equity — that girls and women have access to education,” the US Secretary of State said.

According to ABC News, Blinken did not mention Afghanistan by name in his brief remarks.

Meanwhile, Yousafzai raised the issue of inequality in access to education in Afghanistan.

“You mentioned that we’re here to talk about equality in girls’ education, but we know that Afghanistan right now is the only country where girls do not have access to secondary education. They are prohibited from learning, and I have been working together with Afghan girls and women’s activists and there’s this one message from them — that they should be given the right to work, they should be able to go to school,” she said.

She also called for “more focus” on education and payments for teachers’ salaries as this is one of the key “barriers that prevent schools from running.”

During the discussion, the Nobel laureate also read a letter written by a 15-year-old girl. She urged Blinken to send the letter to President Joe Biden.

She said, “‘The longer schools and universities remain closed to girls, the more hope for our future fades. Girls’ education is a powerful tool for bringing peace and security.

“If girls don’t learn, Afghanistan will suffer too. As a girl and as a human being, I need you to know that I have rights. Women and girls have rights. Afghans have the right to live in peace, go to school, and play.”

According to ABC News, Yousafzai called on the US and United Nations to take immediate action in Afghanistan, so women and girls can go back to school and work safely, as well as provide humanitarian assistance as the country experiences a collapsing economy and worsening food insecurity.(UNI)