Conference Resolution 23 june 2025
The World: From Reluctance to Asylum to the Forced
Return of Afghan Refugees
Date: June 23, 2025
Organizer: Federation of Afghan Resident Organizations in Europe (FAROE)
Format: Online Annual Conference
The Federation of Afghan Residents in Europe (FAROE), with participation from member organizations, independent experts, Afghan civil society representatives across Europe, United State of America, Canada and refugee and human rights specialists, convened its annual conference on June 23, 2025. Based on research findings, personal testimonies, legal analysis, and lived realities, the conference issues the following resolution.
1. The crisis in Afghanistan and the drivers of migration
The current situation in Afghanistan which stems from the collapse of the democratic system and the Taliban’s oppressive rule, has increasingly compelled people, especially the educated and professional youth, to flee the country. The contributing factors are the suppression of freedoms, arbitrary detentions, torture, execution, widespread poverty, discrimination, systematic violations of women’s rights, and an escalating economic and humanitarian crisis.
The international community, regional countries, and previous Afghan governments have all played a role in creating this situation and must be held accountable. The condition of Afghan women and girls amounts to gender apartheid and systemic human rights violations, including denial of education, employment, public participation and access to healthcare.
Recommendations:
The international community and the governments of the regional countries must accept political and moral responsibility for their roles and act accordingly toward the people of Afghanistan.
The forced return of Afghan refugees under current conditions constitutes a clear violation of international law, fundamental human rights including the principle of non-refoulement.
No refugee should be returned to a country where they face persecution and their life, liberty, or dignity is at serious risk.
2 – Mistreatment of Afghan refugees in neighboring countries
Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Tajikistan face widespread mistreatment and discrimination, arbitrary detention, lack of legal protections and mass deportations with serious consequences such as psychological, social, and economic harm.
Recommendations
– International bodies, especially UNHCR, must ensure stronger accountability and monitoring of states’ treatment of Afghan refugees.
– Host countries’ governments must fully comply with international legal standards, specially the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocols.
– All collective expulsions and arbitrary detentions must cease immediately.
3. Gender apartheid and the plight of Afghan women
The condition of Afghan women and girls amounts to gender apartheid and systemic human rights violations, including denial of education, employment, public participation and access to healthcare making Afghanistan one of the worst places in the world for women.
Recommendations
– The international community must treat the crisis facing Afghan women as a human rights emergency.
– No engagement with the Taliban should be granting them political legitimacy unless it includes firm guarantees for women’s rights and an end to gender-based discrimination
4- To International Human Rights Institutions
In light of continued and widespread violations human rights both within Afghanistan and in host countries, the following recommendations are made to institutions including the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other relevant bodies:
– Strengthen cooperation with Afghan human rights organizations inside Afghanistan, in exile, and in the region through financial, technical, and capacity-building support
– Employ and engage Afghan human rights defenders and advocates in neighboring countries and in the region such as Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkey to leverage their local knowledge, language and documentation skills. This measure not only protects defenders but also strengthens monitoring and accountability on the ground.
– Launch joint field missions and collaborative documentation projects to monitor and report abuses such as forced return, detention, discrimination, and gender-based violence.
– Recognize Afghan organizations as legitimate bridges to vulnerable Afghan communities and give them an active role in policymaking and human rights reporting.
5. To Refugee-Hosting countries and migration authorities
All governments and institutions involved in refugee policy are urged to:
– Use human rights assessments as the basis for evaluating conditions in Afghanistan.
– Accelerate and simplify the asylum process for Afghan applicants.
– Focus on resettlement, educational opportunities, and creating new legal pathways for Afghans at risk.
Conclusion
The mass migration of Afghans is a humanitarian response to inhumane conditions. The world must not respond with indifference, but with solidarity, action, and accountability. The Federation of Afghan Residents in Europe (FAROE) reaffirms its commitment to work with all stakeholders—governments, networks, and civil society actors—who are devoted to human rights, protection, and justice for the Afghan people.
Federation of Afghan Residents in Europe (FAROE)
Dated: June 23, 2025
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Download the conference resolution in Dari (Farsi)