Romanian civil society is calling for solidarity with Afghanistan

Note: This open letter was initiated by the Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights and supported by more than 400 Romanian non-governmental organizations.

The Romanian Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights (CDMiR), whose members are NGOs active in the field of migration, human rights and public policies, who is advocating for the harmonious integration of migrants in Romanian society, is expressing its solidarity with the Afghan people and is asking Romanian authorities to contribute to the management of the humanitarian crisis currently taking place in Afghanistan.

The aim of this call for solidarity is to draw attention to the desperate situation in Afghanistan, which is unfolding in front of our eyes and shocking the whole world. This is a moment when our actions are more relevant than ever.

CDMiR salutes the initiative supported by Romania and 60 other states, calling on all parties to respect and facilitate the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country, and for airports and border crossing points to remain open, in the context of the Talibans’ sudden rise to power.

In the context of the collapse of the Afghan Government and the rise to power of Taliban forces, we expect the human rights situation to become critical. Women and girls of all ages are once again at risk of exclusion, of being transformed into annexes of men, victims of violence and human rights violations. All the Afghans who have worked and fought for all these years for building a liberal democracy in their country are now potential targets of repression. People who have worked together with international forces, including with the Romanian Army, are now at risk.

In this context, CDMiR is calling for Romanian authorities to immediately take steps in the following directions:

Support for Afghan citizens who have collaborated with the Romanian Army in Afghanistan. Either translators or auxiliary personnel, they are all now at risk of violent repression. We are asking the Romanian Government and Parliament to urgently adopt legislation that would allow for these persons and their families to be granted protection by the Romanian state. We are asking the competent institutions to facilitate their departure from Afghanistan and their safe passage to Romania. At the same time, we are asking Romanian authorities to take into consideration all Afghan citizens who have been involved in peacekeeping operations, as they are at great risk of persecution.

Maintaining the suspension of forced return operation to Afghanistan. There is no doubt that Afghanistan is no longer a safe country, if it ever was. It is in the middle of a new and bloody conflict. We believe that returning migrants to Afghanistan would mean a threat to their lives, as they would be at risk of torture and repression, even execution. We are highlighting the particular risk to which Afghan women and children are exposed, as well as vulnerable persons, such as persons with disabilities and the LGBT+ community. This measure was also recommended by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Protection of Afghans who ask for asylum in Romania, with special care for the needs of women, children and vulnerable persons. International sources refer to a new Afghan exodus, out of the Talibans’ way. The UN Refugee Agency is estimating hat around 300.000 Afghans have fled violence this year, and their number is growing. Many of them are heading to Europe. Our country has the legal and moral obligation to ensure that all procedural guarantees, including personal dignity, are respected, in order for these persons to have access to a just and equitable asylum procedure. In this regard, we must prepare by increasing our response capacity and the resources allotted to the asylum and integration system. Last, but not least, we are asking Romanian authorities to take into consideration the special case of Afghans who are already living in Romania and who ae applying for family reunification or reunion with their family members who are still in Afghanistan.

It is in our power to document and to give a voice to those vulnerable and exposed to abuse and persecution by the Taliban regime, and to be united against the terror in Afghanistan.

It is our duty, the civil society’s, to call for political leaders to adopt measures that will encourage the respect and protection of human rights, so that those in need of humanitarian assistance and support to receive them.

Member organizations of the Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights are involved in a wide array of activities, from direct assistance for migrants to research and monitoring of public services. Together, we are advocating for asylum procedures and integration processes that are respecting both human rights and Romanian citizens natural wish for their welfare. We assure you of our full availability to bring our expertise to the table and to provide any further information.

We hope for our letter to be received in an open manner and to contribute to efficient cooperation between state authorities and civil society, in order for us to reach our common goal: protecting fundamental human rights.

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The Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights (CDMiR) is a public platform of non-governmental organizations active in the field of migration, human rights and public policies. CDMiR has 23 member organization and 5 supporters, including academia and international organizations. More information is available here: www.cdmir.ro

Coalition members:

• Consiliul Național Român pentru Refugiați (secretariatul Coaliției)
• Centrul pentru Inovare Publică
• Centrul de Documentare și Cercetare în Domeniul Integrării Imigranților (CDCDI) 
• Asociația Conect 
• Fundația ICAR
• ARCA – Forumul Român pentru Refugiați și Migrație
• Academia de Advocacy din Timișoara
• Centrul de Cercetare și Comunicare Interculturală Iași (CCCI)
• Asociația Română pentru Promovarea Calității și Practicilor de Succes (ARPCPS) – Migrant Integration Center Brasov
• Asociația Filantropia Oradea
• Asociația Solidaritatea Umană Nova Pitești
• AidRom
• Societatea Academică din România
• Institutul Intercultural din Timișoara
• Asociația pentru Promovarea Migrației Legale
• Asociația Novapolis-Centrul de Analize și Inițiative pentru Dezvoltare
• Terre des Hommes România
• Salvați Copiii România
• Liga pentru Apărarea Drepturilor Omului (LADO), filiala Cluj
• Asociația ASSOC Baia-Mare
• Asociația Bud’s Flowers
• Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR)
• LOGS- Grup de Iniţiative Sociale 

This call is also supported by the following organizations and platforms:

• FONSS – Federația Organizațiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Servicii Sociale – 44 member NGOs (https://fonss.ro/)
• FONPC – Federația Organizațiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Copil – 64 member NGOs (www.fonpc.ro)
• Rețeaua Dizabnet- Rețeaua prestatorilor de servicii pentru persoane cu dizabilități – 117 member NGOs (https://dizabnet.ro/)
• Asociatia Romanian Women’s Lobby – 22 member NGOs
• Confederația Caritas România – 10 ONG-uri membre (https://caritasromania.ro )
• RENASIS (Rețeaua Națională Antisărăcie – Includere Socială) – 17 member NGOs
• ProTECT –   Platforma organizațiilor care luptă împotriva traficului de persoane – 21 member NGOs (https://traficdepersoane.ro/)
• RoTIP – Rețeaua ONG-urilor împotriva Traficului de Persoane – 20 member NGOs
• FOND – Federația Organizațiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Dezvoltare – 34 ONG-uri membre (https://www.fondromania.org/)
• Centrul FILIA
• Societatea de Analize Feministe AnA
• Fundația Centrul de Mediere și Securitate Comunitară
• Asociația ActiveWatch (www.activewatch.ro)
• Asociația SEXUL vs BARZA 
• Centrul de Acțiune pentru Egalitate și Drepturile Omului (ACTEDO)
• Serviciul Voluntar de Ambulanță (Asociația Ambulanța.Life)
• Centrul de Advocacy și Drepturile Omului (CADO)
• CeRe: Centrul de Resurse pentru participare publică 
• Centrul de Resurse Juridice (www.crj.ro)
• UnLoc (www.unloc.eu)
• Asociația Antreprenorilor Sociali din Nord Vest
• Asociația Front/Feminism România
• Fundaţia pentru Dezvoltarea Societăţii Civile
• Asociația eLiberare
• Fundația Proiectul pentru Educație Civică și Dezvoltare Academică (ECDA)
• Asociația Miliția Spirituală
• Asociația Respiro
• Fundația Missio Link Internațional (MLI)
• Asociația GRADO – Grupul Român pentru Drepturile Omului
• Centrul pentru Afaceri Globale si Postdezvoltare, Institutul de Cercetare Fagaras;
• Fundatia Mihai si Maria Fratila,
• ARCADIA – Asociatia Romana pentru Cooperare si Dezvoltare Internationala
• Asociația ANAIS
• Împreună pentru viitor Constanta
• Asociatia Reset
• Fundatia People to People Oradea
• Asociația pentru Libertate si Egalitate de Gen- A.L.E.G.
• E-Romnja – Asociatia pentru Promovarea Drepturilor Femeilor Rome
• Casa Ioana
• Asociația Institutul pentru Parteneriat Social Bucovina
• Asociația Consultanților în Dezvoltare Comunitară
• Centrul Regional de Resurse pentru Organizații Neguvernamentale Suceava
• Asociația Comunitară Bucovina
• Asociația Socială pentru Tehnologie Avansată – ASTA
• A.R.T. Fusion
• Asociația Young Initiative
• Centrul pentru Studii de Dezvoltare si Cooperare Internationala
• Asociația SPICC

For more information, please get in contact with Ana Cojocaru, project coordinator, Romanian National Council for Refugees – CDMiR Secretariat (cojocaru@cnrr.ro).

The CDMiR project: A common vision for the integration of migrants and refugees in Romania is developed by the Romanian National Council for Refugees Foundation in partnership with the Center for Public Innovation and the Novapolis Association – Center for Analysis and Development Initiatives. The project benefits from funding through the Active Citizens Fund Romania program, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the 2014-2021 EEA Grants.

The content of this document does not necessarily represent the official position of 2014-2021 EEA and Norway Grants; for more information, visit www.eeagrants.org.

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