AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA ADVISORY
3 October, 2016
Afghanistan: International assistance must not be conditional on refugee returns
Afghanistan and its donors must prioritise displaced people
• Spokespeople for available for comment
Ahead of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, Amnesty International is calling for human rights to be at the centre of international political and financial support to Afghanistan and its reform efforts. [1]
“It would be inadmissible that any agreement forged in Brussels makes financial assistance for Afghanistan conditional on the Afghan government’s cooperation to accept the readmission and return of asylum seekers. Wealthy countries cannot buy their way out of their legal obligations and commitments to refugee protection.”Said Horia Mosadiq, Amnesty International Afghanistan Researcher.
“Years of conflict and violence in Afghanistan have forced many to seek asylum elsewhere. However many more people remain displaced within the country and their plight must be given the attention it deserves as cooperation with Afghanistan is discussed.”
BACKGROUND
The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (BCA) will take place on 4-5 October 2016. It will gather up to 70 countries and 20 international organisations and agencies.
Amnesty International’s Afghanistan researcher Horia Mosadiq is available for comment on the conference. Please call Amnesty International press office on +32 486 042 047 or +32 2 548 27 73 to arrange an interview.
[1] Amnesty International, “Human Rights must be at centre of discussions on Afghanistan’s future,” 20 September 2016. https://www.amnesty.eu/content/assets/B1786_HRVP_Brussels_Conference_Afghanistan_20092016.pdf