During this period American armiesWith the sudden departure of Afghanistan, the world has witnessed the desperate efforts to evacuate foreign aid workers, diplomats, and thousands of Afghan partners and employees who worked bravely with these international actors.
A large number of Afghan activists, journalists, academics, civic leaders and human rights defenders have disappeared on flights departing Hong Kong. They have been fighting for a more just, open and inclusive Afghanistan for the past two decades.These tireless defenders of democracy are in Taliban Target list, but ranked lower in the airport evacuation list. International human rights organizations and women’s organizations have managed to get some people away, including by land, but those who manage to cross the border often cannot use frozen bank accounts and face great uncertainty regarding the legal status of any new country. To make matters worse, there are thousands more people trapped in Afghanistan, in great danger.
In recent decades, nascent authoritarian regimes have attacked and persecuted journalists, human rights defenders, and vulnerable or scapegoat population groups throughout the world as a means of consolidating power. It turns out that the Taliban are no different. In the air evacuation led by the United States, Reported by UN Human Rights Commissioner Michel Bachelet The Taliban have executed summary executions of civilians, continue to recruit child soldiers and violently suppress peaceful protests, citing only some of their abuses since they seized control of major cities in Afghanistan.
Although the US military’s mission in the country may be coming to an end, the democratic world’s commitment to protecting Afghanistan’s fundamental rights cannot.
VICE KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images
First, we must help those who still want to leave. The United States and its allies should continue to demand that Afghanistan’s roads and borders remain open to anyone seeking security abroad. The Afghan Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulate that citizens have the right to leave their country. Although the Taliban can choose to ignore these documents, all responsible governments have the obligation to safeguard basic human freedoms. The United States, allied democracies, and neighboring countries should also relax visa restrictions for human rights defenders, journalists, women’s rights activists, and other activists, establish a special visa category for these threatened groups, and ensure that they receive the necessary assistance to Start a new job. Live in their refuge.
Second, we must support those who stay. Foreign diplomats and aid workers will return or continue their activities in Afghanistan. In addition to meeting the critical humanitarian needs of the people, they should also give priority to protecting human rights defenders, women and women’s rights activists, journalists, religious minorities and other vulnerable groups, etc. Vulnerable Groups. LGBTQ+ crowd. International representatives need to be clearly present on the ground to prevent, document, and respond to human rights violations. International institutions should explore all ways to provide funds to civil society actors while at the same time removing financial pressure on the Taliban too soon.
Third, we must hold the Taliban accountable for their actions. The international community and democracies are particularly influential in the former rebellion, which now seeks government recognition, market access and financing, and the end of its untouchability status. This influence should be used to maintain basic freedom. Although the Taliban’s truly terrifying human rights record does not bode well for their future performance, the international community should not lower the standard of acceptable behavior among nations just because the Taliban is unlikely to meet it.We should not accept their leaders blindly Claim This victory was unexpected, and they only needed time to restore order.
Attention is now focused on the shocking failures associated with the withdrawal of US troops, and it is not easy to mobilize international pressure to open borders, support vulnerable activists, and hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations, and no immediate progress will be made. But just as we treat all countries trapped in authoritarian rule, we must strive to make progress. We should thank the Afghans who were forced to leave their homes and the millions of people who were left behind.
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca is the Executive Vice President of Freedom House.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author.
