20 million Afghan women and girls must not be allowed to ‘die slowly’
04.03.23
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council – Like thousands of others, Razia Arefi, who had been working as a field director for our associate member Mothers for Peace in Afghanistan, fled the country in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover and became a refugee - for the 3rd time in her life.
On Friday 3 March, Razia, a mother, an ex-civil servant, and a women’s rights activist, delivered a powerful statement to the Human Rights Council, calling on Member States to not forget the continuous suffering of Afghan women, especially those left behind, reduced to objects under the anti-woman rule of the Taliban.
Razia, who now lives in Belgium, told the Council what was happening in her country was ‘death in slow motion’.
Razia’s statement for download
Razia was one of four NGO speakers selected to deliver their message during the High Level Segment of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council.
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