Short information on FAROE
What is FAROE? FAROE stands for “Federation of Afghan Refugee Organizations in Europe”. FAROE is the coordinating body of 53 social-cultural organizations of Afghan Diaspora in Europe. In addition to the organizations, tens of prominent Afghan intellectuals support the work of FAROE as individuals. FAROE is the biggest and the most important coordinating body Afghans have ever had in Europe. The organization was founded in 1999, when Afghanistan suffered under theocratic dictator of the Taliban. The objectives of FAROE are limited to advocacy of the common interests of Afghan community in Europe, helping the community to preserve the Afghan cultural values and trying to keep them aware of the developments in Afghanistan and stimulating them to be constructively involved with the issues such as human rights, good governance, democratization and peace-building in Afghanistan.
Characteristics of FAROE FAROE is a non-profit, independent social-cultural organization. FAROE is not associated with Afghan or foreign political parties. The basic principal for our evaluation and judgement is the national interests of Afghanistan and its people and the cause of democracy. FAROE works together with all Afghans without distinction of their ethnicity, language or religion. The only exception for the FAROE is persons who have been involved in the war-crimes, gross violations of Human rights and crimes against humanity.
Social background of FAROE FAROE works in close cooperation with more than 200.000 Afghans in Europe, European civil-society organizations such as Amnesty International, the EU parliament, some Universities and other entities working for refugees. FAROE tries to place Afghanistan in the political agenda of the European governments in order to attract more attention for the issues such as reconstruction and democratization of Afghanistan. In the same area’s takes FAROE contact with the current Afghan government as well. For this purpose organizes FAROE annual conferences over the most challenging issues for Afghanistan.
Legal position of FAROE FAROE is a registered association. Members of FAROE are organizations. FAROE has also honorary individual members. These are individuals given such a status by the general assembly of members on the basis of their social status or great services for the nation.
The focus area’s for FAROE in relation to Afghanistan? Human rights, good governance, democratization are the focus points of FAROE in relation to Afghanistan. In the past 11 years, numerous conferences and projects are organized on these issues:
– Conference on Preparation for the new Afghan constitution, 2003.
– Conference on fare and transparent elections, 2004.
– Transitional Justice in Afghanistan, 2005.
– Conference on how to involve diaspora in rebuilding Afghanistan, 2006.
– Conference on stabilization of Afghanistan, 2008
– Press Conference parallel to Afghanistan Conference in The Hague, 2009.
– Conference on continuation of work for transitional justice, 2010.
– Establishment of 3Legal aid centres for female victims of violence in Herat, Kabul and Jalalabad.
– Establishment of schools in Khost and Herat.
– Work on establishment of a Café politics in Kabul.
– Moral and material support for Afghan civil society.
– The focus area’s for FAROE in Europa:
– Civil rights of Afghan refugees in Europe.
– Integration of Afghan refugees in Europe.
– Continuation of demand of justice on Afghan war-criminals residing in Europe.
– Political participation of Afghan refugees in Europe.
– General problems of Afghan refugees in asylum area in Europe.
European Union
FAROE believes in European Union as an important institution for peace, welfare and safeguarding civil rights in European continent and Worldwide. FAROE looks to EU as a model for cooperation based on common interest and consensus. In order to express our pride as an European organization, the logo of FAROE is based on the logo of European Union.
The first direct contact FAROE made with the EU was submitting our petition on the passive EU reaction towards the destruction of biggest Buda statues in Bamian. This petition was submitted in November 2001 to Mrs. Simonne Vell, then president of European parliament.
For every event organized by FAROE many members of EU parliament were invited to participate. For the most part, however, they were due to their other obligations not in a situation to attend.
The Human Rights branch of the EU commission for external relations has been on the top of our mailing list to which the resolutions of EU conferences have been sent.
For our ongoing and future activities we expect the European Union Commission to help us in the following fields:
– To support our efforts against impunity in Afghanistan. The Human Rights Committee of FAROE needs technical, moral and material support for documentation of crimes and abuses in the past three decades.
– To support our efforts against impunity for Afghan war-criminals and human rights abusers residing in EU member states.
– To strengthen our efforts for enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan.
– To facilitate our efforts to collaborate and get engaged in supporting the role of civil society in Afghanistan in promoting human rights and democratic reforms.
– To support our actions and projects in areas such as dialogue on Human rights, torture and violence against women.