AIBU to ask how to help women and girls in Afghanistan

[Aplone]

... Following the takeover of the Taliban? Are there any practical steps which we in the UK can take to help women and girls who will now undoubtedly lose rights and freedoms under this new regime. I feel so helpless watching these events unfolding, and really want to be able to do something. Are there any reputable organisations* to donate to? Any other actions we can take (petitions etc. although please no links as they are not allowed!!)? Thank you very much.

*not Oxfam! After the way they behaved in Haiti I don't trust them one iota!

(Inb4 - "what about the menz?" I want to help women and girls and "what about our homeless veterans?" I want to help our homeless veterans too, infact it is an issue very close to my heart but I have some idea of what charities etc. offer support and you can support more than one cause!)

Bump

Check out Rory Stewart on Twitter- he suggests a small charity called Turquoise Mountain.

Amnesty?
They will at least shine a light on it.

I don't blinking trust Amnesty either, sex work is work.

But would be interested in other charities. I feel very sad tonight and would like to do something practical.

@urbanbuddha

Amnesty? They will at least shine a light on it.

That joke of an organisation

A Mighty Girl on FB shared these earlier today -

Women for Afghan Women - donate.

CARE.

I noticed this at the end of a guardian article.

Now more than ever, Afghan women need a platform to speak for themselves. As the Taliban’s return haunts Afghanistan, the survival of Rukhshana Media depends on readers’ help. To continue reporting over the next crucial year, it is trying to raise $20,000. If you can help, go to this crowdfunding page.

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/15/afghan-womens-defiance-and-despair-i-never-thought-id-have-to-wear-a-burqa-my-identity-will-be-lost

giwps.georgetown.edu/how-to-save-the-lives-of-afghan-women/?fbclid=IwAR2e7i-LWu8fUlQWO9lO2B5LSWeIDH5a5npmiI8izZiNVmZ-hE2jEGNFy8Y

Also, please write to your MP regarding the refusal to issue visas to 35 Afghan chevening scholars - half women. Their lives are now at risk following this inhumane decision. Parliament is being recalled Wednesday.

It might be worth pausing and letting the situation on the ground setttle.

They will still need money in a few months time (arguably greater need then as it drops out of thee headlines)

And there will be a better idea of who is doing what.

In the short term, would you be interested in supporting the. Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan or Iran, who between them are hosting 2.4million of the estimated 2.6million worldwide (UNHCR estimates from earlier this year)

@vagmons

Also, please write to your MP regarding the refusal to issue visas to 35 Afghan chevening scholars - half women. Their lives are now at risk following this inhumane decision. Parliament is being recalled Wednesday.

No need - overtaken by events

Boris talked about this in his speech yesterday afternoon,

If they can be got out, they will

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/15/boris-johnson-promises-visas-to-afghan-students-amid-taliban-advance

@vagmons

Also, please write to your MP regarding the refusal to issue visas to 35 Afghan chevening scholars - half women. Their lives are now at risk following this inhumane decision. Parliament is being recalled Wednesday.

Do you have any names/details to make it more complete? Or where I can find more info?

Info is in The Guardian link in my post above (contains an onwards link to the article before the PM's intervention)

I haven't seen the individuals publicly named anywhere - only ever talking about the group of 35 new Chevening scholars

Good thread.

The news of systematic rapes is gut wrenching.

I don’t understand why the west have just deserted Afghanistan. Don’t we already know from history that this sets up decades of turmoil? Guessing that’s another thread.

@jellylegsbegone

Good thread.

The news of systematic rapes is gut wrenching.

I don’t understand why the west have just deserted Afghanistan. Don’t we already know from history that this sets up decades of turmoil? Guessing that’s another thread.

We deserted for a simple reason, it’s been twenty years of training Afghan military to hold the country and twenty years of occupation, so they basically said it was time for the military to step up and for the west to leave the country to their war.

The alternate was to put more western troops in and fight the Taliban as they were ready to strike. The feeling was we had spent so much money and too many people had lost their lives for two decades, that the country had to manage its own civil war now,

The Taliban are in control now, and honestly I think very little can be done, it’s hard to write it. The only way the west will go after them is if they do not let the people out who are being evacuated by the various governments, I suspect they will be evacuated as that’s the deal with the Taliban. The rest the country is being left to manage itself.

I can't believe the government is not helping the interpreters, what a disgrace. These people risked their lives and the Tories repay them this way . At least they have about-turned on the Chevening scholars which is a drop in the ocean but something. But their initial response was to just abandon them too.

I agree with helping the refugee camps for now, and one would reasonably assume the organisation referred to above promoted by Rory Stewart is legitimate.

The whole situation is depressing, and shameful. Disgraceful that Raab only just came back from his jollies (that man is useless) and it is taking so long to recall parliament (not that the PM will have any ideas, as he is also completely useless).

Sorry, I am randomly ranting...

Yes I do understand the background but this situation is worse isn’t it? I just read this and realised how lucky we are in the the UK.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/15/an-afghan-woman-in-kabul-now-i-have-to-burn-everything-i-achieved

@jellylegsbegone

Yes, this situation is worse, for those in Afghanistan and for security.

Both Biden and Johnson said there was no chance of the Taliban taking control. Either:
a) They knew the Taliban were going to take control and were lying - if they thought this was an OK outcome they would not have lied
or
b) They genuinely did not think they would take control - in which case this is a fuck up.

Honestly I can see both sides.

What’s happening is shocking, and the barbarity is chilling, but the reality is it’s been twenty years and over a trillion dollars and many western lives lost.

And the Afghan military after being trained and weaponised for two decades were totally unwilling to stand up to the Taliban, they have the capability, they have the weapons, they simply didn’t in the most part.There has been little to no resistance from the afghans.

It is likely there will be full blown civil war. On one side I can see why the west should stay in and protect them, on the other I can also see why it is up to the afghans to take control of their own country and not wish the west to do it for them.

Biden said it made no difference if it was another year or five years, if they weren’t going to do it, then timing made no difference.

Really now it’s up to the Afghan people. They have the military. They have the weapons. They can fight the Taliban just like the west can. If they choose not to, then the country will be run by the Taliban, and all that entails.

It will likely be civil war, and it’s going to be brutal, so I think more shocking scenes to come sadly.😞

[quote lannistunut]@jellylegsbegone

Yes, this situation is worse, for those in Afghanistan and for security.

Both Biden and Johnson said there was no chance of the Taliban taking control. Either:
a) They knew the Taliban were going to take control and were lying - if they thought this was an OK outcome they would not have lied
or
b) They genuinely did not think they would take control - in which case this is a fuck up.[/quote]
Actually that’s not quite true, not of recent events they didn’t say that. They thought it would take two or three months, not days though.

It's not really up to the civilians imho. Whoever has the people power and the weapons wins. Person in the street isn't in a position to take up arms and clearly the Afghan army aren't putting up a lot of resistance.

We could say 'well they must want to be ruled by Taliban' but l don't think that the case. More like they don't think they will be successful in defe dj g themselves so better to roll.over than fight and have their families see them hung in the streets when they do lose.

Both Biden and Johnson said there was no chance of the Taliban taking control. Either: ...a) They knew the Taliban were going to take control and were lying [] ...or

Boris Johnson has a track record of lying a mile long. You don't need an "or" in that sentence.

We can accept and welcome any refugees who make it here.

We can write to MPs before Wednesday asking them to support free passage for Afghani people- particularly women and children.

We can ensure we use our own rights responsibly, valuing education, voting wisely, challenging any lessening of women’s rights.

We can write to MPs before Wednesday asking them to support free passage for Afghani people- particularly women and children

What do you mean by 'free passage'?

Wouldn't it be better to give a quota of visas to residents in the existing camps?

Because the only routes out now are by foot, so that is where those who succeed in exiting the country will end up.

Sadly Emirates have now stopped their flights into and out of Kabul, so exit routes are blocked apart from coalition military flights. They are taking their own citizens first, so Afghani people at the airport are panicking.