Author: رسانه‌ای گوهر شاد

10 months ago - 622 Visits

Sadiqa Mushtaq, a women's rights activist from Afghanistan, received the honorary title of "Ambassador of Rule of Law" at a ceremony in Italy, awarded by the International Rotary Association of that country. This award was given in recognition of Sadiqa Mushtaq's persistent and courageous efforts in defending human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. In a post on her X account, Ms. Mushtaq stated that she received this award on Friday, April 11, during a ceremony in Italy. In her speech at the event, Sadiqa Mushtaq said, "This honor does not belong to me alone; it belongs to all the women who are fighting for the right to education, freedom, and equality in Afghanistan." She emphasized, "As an Afghan woman, a mother, and a social activist, I have faced many challenges. After the fall of the government in Afghanistan, women were suppressed, but I and other brave women decided not to remain silent. I believe that every woman who fights inspires other women." Sadiqa Mushtaq added, "Living in a new country is difficult, but it is also an opportunity to advocate for human rights. I will continue to fight for justice, equality, and women's rights." This women's rights activist stated, "My message to all women is that no injustice lasts forever; if we join hands, no one can stop us." Rotary Italy also expressed its appreciation for Sadiqa Mushtaq's struggle against gender discrimination and her efforts to promote justice and the rule of law in a society where women are deprived of their most basic rights. The Ambassador of Rule of Law award is given by Rotary Italy to individuals who have played a significant role in promoting justice, ethics, and the rule of law in their communities. While this women's rights activist receives the "Ambassador of Rule of Law" award from Italy, the caretaker government has closed girls' schools above the sixth grade since regaining power in Afghanistan, and there are no signs of policy change in the new academic year. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of education. Additionally, women are banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

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10 months ago - 909 Visits

Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Punjab, expressed deep concern about the education situation for girls in Afghanistan during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey and announced the establishment of Pakistan's first artificial intelligence university in Lahore. She made these remarks at the fourth round of the International Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Turkey, highlighting humanitarian crises in various countries and describing the deprivation of Afghan girls and women from education as one of the most painful manifestations of injustice. She emphasized, "In Afghanistan, girls are deprived of education. In Palestine, children are trapped under rubble. In Kashmir, children face discrimination and violence. In Sudan, children walk kilometers to find food." In her speech, Maryam Nawaz added that education should not be limited to a curriculum but should serve as "a force for healing, a means to alleviate deprivation, and a tool for building a better world." Additionally, the Chief Minister of Punjab announced the establishment of Pakistan's first artificial intelligence university in Lahore, considering it an important step towards shaping the future of Pakistan's youth. Maryam Nawaz referred to educational reforms in the province, stating, "We have upgraded over 4,000 primary schools, launched digital learning rooms in 6,000 schools, and allocated 50,000 merit-based scholarships for talented students." She also announced the hiring of 30,000 new teachers, the distribution of milk in schools to combat malnutrition, and vocational training for teachers, adding, "By utilizing technology and artificial intelligence, we aim to reconstruct the traditional education model." Furthermore, Maryam Nawaz unveiled a new initiative called "Nawaz Sharif Internet City," presenting it as a symbol of Pakistan's digital future. While Maryam Nawaz advocates for the educational rights of Afghan girls, the current caretaker government has closed girls' schools above the sixth grade since regaining power in Afghanistan, and there are no signs of policy change in the new academic year. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being deprived of education. Moreover, women are barred from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

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11 months ago - 730 Visits

In a recent statement, the World Food Program expressed concern over the decline in global aid, particularly from the United States, warning that the main burden of this crisis falls on women and children in Afghanistan. On Thursday, April 10, the organization published a video on its X account, stating that due to budget shortfalls, approximately 650,000 mothers and children in Afghanistan have been deprived of "vital nutritional" assistance. The World Food Program's warning comes as the United States has cut its aid to the organization in Afghanistan due to concerns about the interim government's exploitation of this assistance. Previously, Reuters reported that the U.S. government plans to reduce its foreign aid, including emergency food assistance to Afghanistan and several other countries. Cindy McCain, head of the United Nations World Food Program, warned in response to this decision that the reduction in emergency food aid could be a "death sentence" for millions facing severe hunger. It is noteworthy that Donald Trump halted foreign aid upon entering the White House. According to figures provided by a relief agency, the total amount of halted aid exceeds $1.3 billion. This budget includes $562 million for Afghanistan, $105 million for Yemen, $170 million for Somalia, $237 million for Syria, and $12 million for Gaza. According to a United Nations report, nearly 23 million people, more than half of whom are children, in Afghanistan need assistance. The World Food Program states that last year it provided emergency food and cash to nearly 12 million people in Afghanistan and prioritized assistance for women and girls facing "severe hunger."

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11 months ago - 611 Visits

Pakistan's Samaa TV, citing data collected by Punjab's security organizations, has reported that 6,308 Afghan female refugees are living in this province. According to the report, out of this number, 1,828 Afghan women are without valid residency documents. Samaa TV has noted that the highest concentration of Afghan female migrants has been recorded in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. Furthermore, it is stated that approximately 720 undocumented Afghan women have been identified in Rawalpindi. The television station reported that Punjab's security agencies have compiled accurate records including the location, age, and legal status of Afghan women residing in the province. The data indicates that 3,398 Afghan women with "Afghan citizenship cards" are living in Gujranwala. According to the data, there are 294 Afghan women holding citizenship cards in Lahore, while another 429 undocumented women have been identified. Additionally, it has been mentioned that 1,915 girls under the age of 18, 2,987 women between the ages of 18 and 35, 921 women between 35 and 50 years old, and 458 other Afghan women over the age of 50 are living in Punjab. Samaa TV has reported that this data is being released at a time when the expulsion of holders of "Afghan citizenship cards" in Pakistan is continuing sharply, and various organizations remain concerned about the potential risks for these individuals, especially women, in Afghanistan. UN experts have identified Afghan women and girls as one of the most vulnerable groups of Afghan migrants in Pakistan. It is worth mentioning that following the takeover of Afghanistan by the caretaker government, protesting women, activists, female journalists, and other at-risk women have fled the country and sought refuge in countries like Pakistan and Iran, where their expulsion could pose serious threats to their security and rights.

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11 months ago - 460 Visits

A woman in Farah province has paved the alleyways of her village in Anar Dara district and installed a solar power system by selling 500 grams of gold and spending $30,000 of her own money. The woman, named Aho Bashiri, has been living in Herat province for the past 30 years. She has managed to pave the streets and alleyways of her native village with concrete and provide solar electricity for one thousand families. The people of "Zahakhan" village in Anar Dara district call her the "Generous Mother." They say she left her home in the village for Herat three decades ago. Residents say that after returning to her village, Aho Bashiri decided to use her half kilogram of gold and $30,000 in cash to fund the concrete paving and solar power system for the village's roads. Aho Bashiri stated: “After thirty years, I returned to my homeland and saw that it was very dusty. People, especially the children, were lost in the dust. I told my son, Ezzatullah, that I would sell my gold and help the people. I will spend my money on these roads so that people can be freed from the dust. I still have another kilogram of gold and plan to build a hall for the people.” Meanwhile, her son, Ezzatullah Bashiri, said that his mother also provided solar electricity for the village. He emphasized: “The alleys of the village were paved, and with the installation of more than a hundred solar panels, the streets and alleyways are now lit. The initiator of this charitable act is our mother. After her effort, some local businessmen also began contributing to similar projects in the village.” Aho Bashiri’s actions have brought joy to the village residents. The residents of Zahakhan village say that thanks to this woman’s help, they now have electricity and clean streets. They added: “Having electricity is a great improvement for us. The roads were in poor condition before, but now they’re much better. We can now go out wearing clean clothes.” Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, also praised Aho Bashiri’s initiative, saying that people should stand alongside the government and contribute to Afghanistan’s development. The villagers welcomed the construction of the road and called on charitable organizations and traders to pay attention to the district’s infrastructure, especially its main roads. Despite the inflow of millions of dollars into the country, many remote villages in Afghanistan still face serious challenges with transportation. Afghan citizens have repeatedly called on government officials to construct standard roads and bridges in rural areas and on highways.

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11 months ago - 669 Visits

The World Food Programme has expressed serious concern over the United States' decision to cut emergency food assistance to Afghanistan and 13 other countries. Today (Tuesday, April 8), the organization stated that it is currently in contact with the U.S. government and has shared its concerns with them. The World Food Programme expressed that if this U.S. decision is implemented, it would be a death sentence for millions of people facing severe hunger. The statement highlighted gratitude for the assistance received from the United States and other international donors and reaffirmed its commitment to providing vital food aid to vulnerable communities in hunger hotspots around the world. It is noteworthy that the Donald Trump administration recently cut most or all of the remaining humanitarian aid from the United States to Afghanistan. Sara Charles, former head of the Office of Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), along with other informed sources, emphasized to Reuters that these decisions will exacerbate the existing crises in Afghanistan. According to figures provided by a relief organization, the total amount of halted aid exceeds $1.3 billion. This budget includes $562 million for Afghanistan, $105 million for Yemen, $170 million for Somalia, $237 million for Syria, and $12 million for Gaza. According to a report by the United Nations, nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan are in need of assistance, more than half of whom are children. The World Food Programme stated that last year it provided emergency food and cash assistance to nearly 12 million people in Afghanistan, prioritizing aid for women and girls facing "severe hunger."

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11 months ago - 753 Visits

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has once again warned that children in Afghanistan are facing a serious threat of malnutrition. Today (Monday, April 6), the organization published a video on its X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that in the current year, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan are expected to suffer from malnutrition. WFP emphasized that every ten seconds, a child in Afghanistan becomes malnourished, and the reduction in financial aid has deprived millions of people of access to food. The organization previously stated: “People are in an extremely difficult situation. We are seeing more women and children coming to clinics. Many of these mothers are very young.” It further stated that the World Food Programme is often the last lifeline for women struggling to provide basic, nutritious food for their children. However, crippling restrictions continue to push them to the margins of Afghan society, forcing them to make impossible choices to feed their children. It is worth noting that malnutrition is a serious crisis in Afghanistan, particularly among children. Issues such as poverty, lack of access to adequate healthcare and nutrition services hinder the provision of essential treatment and the prevention of this condition. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has predicted that the number of children suffering from malnutrition in Afghanistan will reach 3.5 million by 2025. According to UN reports, this figure has been around 3 million children under the age of five over the past five years. OCHA also states that in 2025, 22.9 million people in Afghanistan will be in need of humanitarian assistance. The organization requires a budget of $2.24 billion to provide aid. In 2024, OCHA had requested a budget of $3.06 billion to assist the people of Afghanistan; however, according to the latest UN reports, only about 40% of this budget has been secured.

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11 months ago - 547 Visits

The South Asia office of Amnesty International has launched a new campaign calling for the cancellation of the deportation program for Afghan migrants from Pakistan. In a statement, the office said that the aim of this campaign is to raise the voices of Afghan citizens who are at risk of illegal deportation from Pakistan. The statement quotes Babu Ram Pant, the regional deputy for South Asia at Amnesty International, as saying: "Afghan citizens, including refugees and asylum seekers, have been living in fear and anxiety since the announcement of the phased deportation plan by Pakistani authorities in October 2023. Many of these Afghans have been residing in Pakistan for over four decades." He further added: "The government of Pakistan is now seriously threatening their lives by insisting on policies that contradict its human rights commitments—especially the principle of non-refoulement." These statements come as the forced deportation process began three days ago in Peshawar. Additionally, Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, labeled the federal government's policy towards Afghan migrants as misguided during a press conference last Thursday. It is noteworthy that following the current regime's takeover in Afghanistan, a large number of civil activists, human rights defenders, women's rights advocates, journalists, LGBTQ+ individuals, former military personnel, and Afghans who collaborated with foreign forces in Afghanistan have fled to Pakistan and Iran due to fears of retaliation or to seek asylum in European and American countries. Some of them are still awaiting the processing of their asylum requests. Over the past three and a half years, Iran and Pakistan have forcibly deported thousands of migrants and imposed strict policies against them in these countries. Meanwhile, Iran and Pakistan have prohibited the employment of Afghan workers in several provinces and have intensified the process of forcibly deporting asylum seekers. During this time, extensive campaigns against Afghan migrants have been launched on social media by Iranian and Pakistani users.

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11 months ago - 668 Visits

The leaders of the European Union and Central Asia, in a joint statement following the conclusion of their first summit, have called for equal access to education and public participation for Afghan girls and women. Uzbekistan hosted the first-ever Central Asia–EU summit in the city of Samarkand on Friday (April 4). After the summit concluded, the leaders issued a joint statement emphasizing the need for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan based on human rights and fundamental freedoms. In their statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Afghanistan’s development and expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the country. They also stressed the importance of continued support for the people of Afghanistan. The statement reads: “We reaffirm our strong commitment to seeing Afghanistan as a secure, stable, and prosperous country with an inclusive government that respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens — including women, girls, members of ethnic and religious groups, and minorities — lives in peace with itself and its neighbors, and adheres to its international obligations.” The EU and Central Asian leaders also called for full and equal access to education for women and girls, in line with international standards, and for their active participation in public life. In one part of the statement, the leaders emphasized the continuation of regular consultations among special representatives and envoys from Central Asian countries and the European Union. The joint statement was issued after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in his speech at the summit, expressed concern over threats emanating from Afghanistan and the international community’s lack of attention to them. He stated that Uzbekistan is ready to engage in political consultations for the peaceful development of Afghanistan. While these leaders are advocating for women and girls’ access to education and human rights, the de facto government in Afghanistan, since its return to power, has closed girls’ schools above grade six, and there is no sign of this policy changing in the new academic year. This action has left millions of school-age girls deprived of education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

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11 months ago - 478 Visits

The press center of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has reported that the city's prosecutor's office will be trying five individuals on charges of participating in an organized criminal group and human trafficking, which led to the deaths of 18 Afghan refugees in 2023. The Sofia municipality stated in a press release that the date for the trial has not yet been determined. It should be noted that in late January 2023, the bodies of 18 Afghan migrants were found in a truck near the village of Lukorsko, about 16 kilometers from Sofia. The truck was carrying more than 50 people who were hidden in a secret compartment beneath a load of wood. The Bulgarian news agency reported on Tuesday, April 1, citing the Sofia prosecutor's office, that two of the accused observed that Afghan citizens were unable to breathe normally due to "being tightly packed together." The report indicated that despite witnessing this problem, the individuals closed the truck's doors and drove away. The Bulgarian news agency also quoted the prosecutor's office stating that the victims died due to "suffocation in a very painful situation." The indictment stated that 52 individuals from Afghanistan were loaded into the truck from the area of the village of Didiarovo in Burgas province. The truck contained two separate metal compartments covered with wooden planks, which acted as separate rooms. It is worth mentioning that the bodies of these refugees were transferred from Sofia to Kabul months after the incident occurred, in May 2023. At that time, the interim government cited delays in the issuance of court rulings in Bulgaria and banking restrictions for transferring money to airlines as reasons for the delay in repatriating the bodies of these refugees.

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