Evacuation Fund for Afghan Public Defenders
Donation protected
The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money to help a group of Afghan public defenders (aka legal aid lawyers), many of them women, who are in danger and seeking a better life. These brave human rights defenders have for many years stood up for the rights of the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan, and after the Taliban takeover face serious danger due to their work in the justice sector. We we want to do everything we can to help them.
Who We Are
We are an informal group of people who have worked or volunteered with the small NGO that employs these attorneys. The International Legal Foundation (ILF) hires and trains legal aid lawyer in conflict-affected countries around the world to ensure that the rights of society's most vulnerable people are protected. The ILF is the largest legal aid (aka public defense) provider in Afghanistan and have been operating there for 20 years with an entirely Afghan staff.
A Dire Situation
The ILF lawyers are in a double-bind. On the one hand, even though they have never been government employees, their work in court rooms means they are associated with the former government and justice sector and thus at risk. On the other hand, some of the clients that they have represented over the years are now members of the Taliban, and some carry grudges against their former lawyers for outcomes in their cases. While some ILF staff members have chosen to stay in Afghanistan and continue to fight for justice, some have understandably decided to evacuate for the safety of themselves and their families.
What You Can Do
One of the most promising pathways to safety is a legal tool called "humanitarian parole ," which allows allows approved individuals to enter and stay in the US without a visa, but there is a $575 fee for each application. ILF currently has 4 families--13 filing fees--who have applications ready to submit as soon as they can pay this fee, and we have at least 18 more who will need application fees once matched with a lawyer and sponsor.
Who We Are
We are an informal group of people who have worked or volunteered with the small NGO that employs these attorneys. The International Legal Foundation (ILF) hires and trains legal aid lawyer in conflict-affected countries around the world to ensure that the rights of society's most vulnerable people are protected. The ILF is the largest legal aid (aka public defense) provider in Afghanistan and have been operating there for 20 years with an entirely Afghan staff.
A Dire Situation
The ILF lawyers are in a double-bind. On the one hand, even though they have never been government employees, their work in court rooms means they are associated with the former government and justice sector and thus at risk. On the other hand, some of the clients that they have represented over the years are now members of the Taliban, and some carry grudges against their former lawyers for outcomes in their cases. While some ILF staff members have chosen to stay in Afghanistan and continue to fight for justice, some have understandably decided to evacuate for the safety of themselves and their families.
What You Can Do
One of the most promising pathways to safety is a legal tool called "humanitarian parole ," which allows allows approved individuals to enter and stay in the US without a visa, but there is a $575 fee for each application. ILF currently has 4 families--13 filing fees--who have applications ready to submit as soon as they can pay this fee, and we have at least 18 more who will need application fees once matched with a lawyer and sponsor.
We are raising money to help ILF staff members and their families pay these fees. If you have the means to contribute to the cost of these application, please give. Every dollar we receive will go towards application fees (any left over will go to staff member living expenses). The ILF has fought tirelessly on behalf of more than 65,000 people in Afghanistan who otherwise would have had no one on their side. Now it is time for us to be on their side, and we hope you will join us.
Should you have any questions, you can contact ILF's Global Policy Director Ben Polk at bpolk at theilf dot org.
Should you have any questions, you can contact ILF's Global Policy Director Ben Polk at bpolk at theilf dot org.
Organizer
Ben Polk
Organizer
New York, NY
