The Future is Equal

Archives for September 16, 2021

Our obligation to the people of Afghanistan

In an open letter to the minister of foreign affairs (see below), more than 60 civil society organisations and leading individuals call with one voice for the government to increase its efforts when it comes to the crisis in Afghanistan. The call comes as needs grow by the hour, and risks to those on the ground continue to escalate.

The UN Flash appeal on Monday September 13 called for US$600 million to support approximately 11 million people to the end of the year. On Friday last week there was a commitment to $3 million in humanitarian assistance, further to an initial $3 million announced on August 20. The commitment is welcome, however, when it came to the Asian tsunami, New Zealand gave $60 million in new and extra aid. 

Governments around the world have stepped up, both in giving as well as preparing pathways of settlement for the thousands in need of safe refuge. Sadly, New Zealand is not among the leaders when it comes to international efforts. Beyond the initial strict evacuation criteria, there has been no concrete commitment to support those fleeing the country in need of refuge. There has been no concrete commitment to support evacuation and resettlement of the family members of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Afghan community. In fact, despite the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, it was not considered a priority to expedite visa applications of Afghan family members already in the system.

It is not yet too late for us to “up our game”, and the situation certainly requires it. 

Our ask is simple: we say the government must become a leader of international efforts. We need more action on aid and pathways of resettlement. We call for concrete measures to enact the prime minister’s commitment “to reassure Afghan women and girls that we will closely follow the developments in their country, listen to their voices, and continue to support their rights and opportunities”. We also ask that the government drive agreement in the international community to ensure there is accountability, that the crimes and human rights violations across Afghanistan will not go undocumented and unnoticed, and the rights and protections of each individual will be robustly fought for.

Open letter to Nanaia Mahuta, minister of foreign affairs

Tēnā koe Minister Mahuta,

We write to you as a collective voice of organisations and individuals in Aotearoa advocating for the rights and protection of Afghan nationals. We welcome the statements New Zealand has made at the United Nations and the efforts taken to evacuate people. However, more action is needed. As a society that values compassion and kindness, we need to ensure that our response meets the scale of the crisis. 

The needs in Afghanistan are growing by the hour. Right now, there are compounding crises taking place, including hunger, displacement, conflict and Covid-19. Basic services are collapsing, and aid is running out. There are ongoing reports of gross human rights abuses. Women, children and those who have worked to promote human rights, democracy and education are among the people most at risk. Urgent action is needed to prevent an even greater humanitarian disaster and to ensure that every individual has their rights and dignity upheld. 

We are concerned that, alongside causing anguish, delays in government action and decisions increase risk of harm to those who need aid from, or safe resettlement to, New Zealand. We collectively call on the government to:

1. Urgently increase humanitarian and development support. The government must:

  • At least double aid to Afghanistan to support local organisations; and
  • Increase humanitarian aid to surrounding countries that are taking in refugees.

2. Establish and ensure safe pathways of relocation and resettlement for Afghan nationals to New Zealand.

Over 21,000 people across Aotearoa have come together to call on the government to take action to help people fleeing Afghanistan. We implore the government to:

  • Evacuate the remaining people in Afghanistan left from the initial mission, and include at-risk individuals connected to New Zealand in these efforts;
  • Welcome at least 1,500 Afghan refugees in this year’s (July 1 2021-June 30 2022) current refugee intake, over and above the current refugee resettlement quota commitments, for those at most immediate risk or with connections to Aotearoa;
  • Expedite visa processing of both the refugee family support category (RFSC) visas and critical purpose visitor visas;
  • Create or re-establish additional humanitarian pathways to support the reunification of families of Afghan New Zealanders not already lodged with RFSC; and
  • Utilise and expand the community sponsorship scheme to create more viable routes for people to come to New Zealand.

3. Establish formal mechanisms to liaise and consult meaningfully with the Afghan community here in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

It is essential that the government increases its efforts to listen to, support and provide relief to New Zealand’s Afghan community. We stand with the 6,000 Afghan New Zealanders, many who worry for the safety of their families and neighbours.

4. Lead international efforts. The government must:

  • Take concrete measures to enact the prime minister’s commitment “to reassure Afghan women and girls that we will closely follow the developments in their country, listen to their voices, and continue to support their rights and opportunities”.
  • Drive agreement in the international community to establish a robust investigative mechanism – with a mandate to document, collect and preserve evidence of ongoing crimes and human rights violations across Afghanistan.

Your government is perceived to be one that practises kindness and is committed to collective action for the betterment of humanity, yet other countries have taken significant steps to address the need for international support and assistance, while New Zealand has not. Canada has announced the resettlement of up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals and the UK has committed to accepting 20,000 Afghan refugees. The US is expected to admit 50,000 Afghan refugees and has set aside a US$500 million fund that will help meet urgent migration needs. European countries and our Australian neighbours are also taking steps. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is seeking US$606 million to assist nearly 11 million people during the four remaining months of this year. What is required is an international collaborative effort.

The New Zealand government spent 20 years and hundreds of millions of dollars in military expenditure as part of the international intervention in Afghanistan. We have an obligation to the people of Afghanistan to stand by them now. Be it the provision of aid, or safe pathways to New Zealand, the time for response is immediate and the cost of inaction is high. 

We now call on you to do more. 

We look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,

  • ActionStation 
  • Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  • Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Anglican Missions
  • Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition (ARCC)
  • Asylum Support Seekers Trust (ASST)
  • Belong Aotearoa
  • Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
  • ChildFund
  • Christian Churches New Zealand
  • Christian World Service
  • Community Law Centres O Aotearoa
  • Congregational Union of New Zealand
  • Council for International Development
  • ECPAT NZ
  • Fairtrade ANZ
  • Hagar
  • Hazara Afghan Youth Association (HAYA)
  • Hazara Association of New Zealand
  • Methodist Church of New Zealand
  • NZBMS (New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society)
  • Oxfam Aotearoa
  • ReliefAid 
  • Save the Children
  • Tearfund
  • The Gender Justice Collective
  • The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago
  • Tutapona International
  • UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand
  • United Afghan Association of Canterbury
  • Vineyard Churches Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand
  • World Vision New Zealand
  • Alberto Costi, professor, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
  • Amin Vakili, Civil Society Activist and members of the Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  • Archbishop Don Tamihere, te pihopa o Aotearoa
  • Archbishop Philip Richardson, bishop of Waikato and Taranaki
  • Associate professor Bethan Greener PhD, Massey
  • Blake Dawson, barrister (Brandon Street Chambers)
  • Bridget Crichton (Fa’amatuainu), lecturer, AUT School of Law
  • Carol Peters, PhD, QSM, Whangarei district councillor
  • Dr Arif Ali, Hazara Association of New Zealand and Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington.
  • Dr Charles Mpofu, senior lecturer
  • Dr Marnie Lloydd, lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
  • Dr Natalia Szablewska, international human rights and humanitarian law expert, Auckland University of Technology
  • Dr Heather Devere, director of practice, Te Ao o Rongmaraeroa/National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Eleanor Holroyd, co-director AUT Centre of Migrant and Refugee Research
  • James Meager, public law solicitor 
  • Jane Verbitsky, associate professor 
  • Javid Nazari, president of Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  • John McBride, Barrister 
  • Marianne Elliott, human rights advocate
  • Mohammad Raqiz Nabizadah, member of Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington 
  • Monique van Alphen Fyfe, barrister | Rōia Tūtahi (Stout Street Chambers)
  • Natalie Baird, associate professor, Faculty of Law | Te Kaupeka Ture, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
  • Nicola Muir, author
  • Paul Rishworth QC
  • Right Reverend Fakaofo Kaio, moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ
  • Shakerah Zakeri, member of the Afghan community
  • Sulaiman Sarwary, PHD student and member of Aotearoa’s Afghan Community 
  • Wendy Aldred, barrister (Stout Street Chambers)

Group of sixty-one organisations, individuals and community members call for urgent action for Afghanistan

An open letter to Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs was submitted today with signatures from 61 organisations, individuals and Afghan community members calling for urgent action for Afghanistan. In the open letter, the group expresses their concern about the delay in Government action:

“The needs in Afghanistan are growing by the hour. Right now, there are compounding crises taking place, including hunger, displacement, conflict, and Covid-19. Basic services are collapsing, and aid is running out. There are ongoing reports of gross human rights abuses. Women, children, and those who have worked to promote human rights, democracy and education, are amongst the people most at risk. Urgent action is needed to prevent an even greater humanitarian disaster and to ensure that every individual has their rights and dignity upheld.” 

Canada has announced the resettlement of up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals; the UK committed to accepting 20,000 Afghan refugees; the US is expected to admit 50,000 Afghan refugees and has set aside a US$500 million fund which will help meet urgent migration needs; European countries and our Australian neighbours are also taking steps. However, New Zealand has made no such commitments yet. The letter urges the Government to take action, saying:

“Your Government is perceived to be one that practices kindness and is committed to collective action for the betterment of humanity, yet other countries have taken significant steps to address the need for international support and assistance, while New Zealand has not.”

“The New Zealand Government spent 20 years and hundreds of millions of dollars in military expenditure as part of the international intervention in Afghanistan. We have an obligation to the people of Afghanistan to stand by them now. Be it the provision of aid, or safe pathways to New Zealand, the time for response is immediate and the cost of inaction is high.”

Read the open letter here, which includes signatures from the following:

Organisations

  1. ActionStation 
  2. Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  3. Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
  4. Anglican Missions
  5. Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition (ARCC)
  6. Asylum Support Seekers Trust (ASST)
  7. Belong Aotearoa
  8. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
  9. ChildFund
  10. Christian Churches New Zealand
  11. Christian World Service
  12. Community Law Centres O Aotearoa
  13. Congregational Union of New Zealand
  14. Council for International Development
  15. ECPAT NZ
  16. Fairtrade ANZ
  17. Hagar
  18. Hazara Afghan Youth Association (HAYA)
  19. Hazara Association of New Zealand
  20. Methodist Church of New Zealand
  21. NZBMS (New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society)
  22. Oxfam Aotearoa
  23. ReliefAid 
  24. Save the Children
  25. Tearfund
  26. The Gender Justice Collective
  27. The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago
  28. Tutapona International
  29. UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand
  30. United Afghan Association of Canterbury
  31. Vineyard Churches Aotearoa New Zealand
  32. Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand
  33. World Vision New Zealand

Individuals 

  1. Alberto Costi, Professor, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
  2. Amin Vakili, Civil Society Activist and members of the Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  3. Archbishop Don Tamihere. Te Pihopa o Aotearoa
  4. Archbishop Philip Richardson, Bishop of Waikato and Taranaki
  5. Associate Professor Bethan Greener PhD, Massey
  6. Blake Dawson, Barrister (Brandon Street Chambers)
  7. Bridget Crichton (Fa’amatuainu), Lecturer, AUT School of Law
  8. Carol Peters, PhD, QSM, Whangarei District Councillor
  9. Dr Arif Ali, Hazara Association of New Zealand and Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington.
  10. Dr Charles Mpofu; Senior Lecturer
  11. Dr Marnie Lloydd, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
  12. Dr Natalia Szablewska, International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Expert, Auckland University of Technology  
  13. Dr. Heather Devere, Director of Practice, Te Ao o Rongmaraeroa/National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
  14. Eleanor Holroyd Co-Director AUT Centre of Migrant and Refugee Research
  15. James Meager, Public Law Solicitor 
  16. Jane Verbitsky Associate Professor 
  17. Javid Nazari, President of Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington
  18. John McBride, Barrister 
  19. Marianne Elliott, Human Rights Advocate
  20. Mohammad Raqiz Nabizadah, member of Afghan Cultural Association of Wellington 
  21. Monique van Alphen Fyfe, Barrister | Rōia Tūtahi (Stout Street Chambers)
  22. Natalie Baird, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law | Te Kaupeka Ture, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
  23. Nicola Muir, Author
  24. Paul Rishworth QC
  25. Right Reverend Fakaofo Kaio – Moderator Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ
  26. Shakerah Zakeri, member of the Afghan community
  27. Sulaiman Sarwary, PHD student and member of Aotearoa’s Afghan Community 
  28. Wendy Aldred, Barrister (Stout Street Chambers)