Media Release: Fall of Afghanistan: Black Day
Media Release
Fall of Afghanistan: Black Day
Solidarity and Support to the Strength of Afghan Women's Rights Advocates, dedicated to the homeland and remain defiant to Taliban nonsense
Gender Concerns International
The Hague, 15th August 2022
Do not Abandon Afghanistan
Today marks one year since the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan. This morning Gender Concerns International facilitated an online closed interaction with the Afghan partners and colleagues. The event reaffirmed the courage, bravery and strength of Afghan people represented by civil society leaders from Kabul, the region, and the evacuees in The Netherlands.
Speakers reiterated that the International Community has a continued responsibility to ensure the safety of Afghanistan and its people. It is imperative and urgent to recognize the current precarious state of Afghanistan where Fiqha (Islamic jurisprudence) has just been introduced recently. Further, the media in Afghanistan is undergoing a stressful situation and faces an immense pressure to report the deteriorating law and order and safety and security condition.
The International Community must acknowledge the growing need for evacuation and protection of human rights of people in Afghanistan as it cannot continue to shirk responsibility to the citizens of Afghanistan and the recently evacuated Afghans, especially the women. Speakers while detailing the challenges faced by the people in Afghanistan and the refugees in the region and abroad, agreed that the International Community must,
- Lift the Economic Sanctions as it does not affect Taliban much but the great majority of the Afghan People
- Demand accountability for Rapid Humanitarian Assistance and its impact in Afghanistan
- Condition the Taliban's reception in NATO member states with the restoration of women's human rights status
The speakers thanked International Community and especially the Dutch government to support civil society organisations during evacuation process that unfortunately remains yet incomplete. Through Dutch INGOs, enlisted Afghans must be evacuated soon. Director Sabra Bano reaffirmed the organisation’s “unwavering support to the leaders of Afghan Women’s Organisations and that soon, it will approach the Dutch government and the parliament in this regard”. Thank you.
“Stand with Afghanistan, Do Not abandon Afghanistan”
End.
Divija Bhaskar Sharma
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Gender Concerns International is a pioneer International women organisation to support women on the ground through its female leadership program and regional support network in Afghanistan. Asa gender and development international organisation based in The Hague, it’s working to support and advocate for women's participation at all levels of Governance, Electoral and Decision-making processes, Women, Peace and Security and Gender and Environment.
Further information:
www.genderconcerns.org and info@genderconcerns.org
Oder 20, 2491 DC, The Hague the Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0) 65396 5784