The Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights (PPDM) is calling on the government to grant political asylum to all Afghan women and minor children who wish to seek asylum in Portugal given the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
In a statement released today, PPDM says it is “concerned about the current situation of women in Afghanistan and the threat posed by the new extremist Taliban government, which does not respect their physical integrity, their human dignity and their fundamental rights.”
In this regard, she urges that “given the available reception facilities, the government should favor granting political asylum to all Afghan women and their daughters / young children who wish to seek refuge in our country”.
PPDM extracts a memo from Afghan Women’s Rights Association NEGAR, posted on its official website on August 11, calling for international attention to the “deterioration” of conditions in the country since the US withdrawal began.
“Afghan women are again in danger, they are threatened with the loss of their rights, as in difficult years (1996-2001, [de domínio talibã no Afeganistão]), refers to the DENY association note.
A note dated before entering the Afghan capital, Kabul, says that there were already directives in areas controlled by the Taliban at the time that prohibited women from going out without being in the company of a male family member, and ordered lists were drawn up for all girls over 15 and widowed women under 45 to “reward combatants,” that is, to be used in forced marriages with the Taliban who came from Pakistan to fight in Afghanistan.
Following several offensive operations that began in May this year, following the announcement by the United States of the final withdrawal of its armed forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban on Sunday captured the last major city not yet under its rule, the capital Kabul. , announcing today the end of the war in Afghanistan and its victory.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday as the Taliban stood at the gates of the capital as leaders of the radical Islamic movement took over the presidential palace.
The entry of Taliban forces into Kabul marked the end of a two-decade US-led military campaign with the support of its allies, including Portugal. Afghan security forces, trained by foreign militaries, collapsed even before the Taliban entered the city of Kabul.
Thousands of Afghans in Kabul are trying to flee the country, and many have headed to the chaotic international airport.
The situation in Afghanistan will also be discussed on Tuesday at an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the 27 member states of the European Union, at which Portugal will be represented by the Secretary of State for European Affairs as Foreign Minister, Augusto Santos Silva is now on vacation.
US President Joe Biden’s statement was announced today by the White House.
