Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission
11.3.2021
The EU is following the situation in Afghanistan closely, also with regard to the targeted violence against civil society, judicial, media, religious, medical and civilian government representatives who are essential to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. On 31 January 2021 the EU Delegation issued a joint statement with Member States, and like-minded partners, represented in Kabul strongly condemning the unacceptable high level of violence and targeting of civilians, including journalists[1]. The EU has consistently called for an immediate and comprehensive cease-fire in Afghanistan and continue to engage partners in this regard.
Measures to safeguard interpreters who may experience repression due to their engagement with armed forces engaged in Afghanistan will be the responsibility of the respective Member States. Member States also have the responsibility with regard to visa and asylum decisions that may be related to such cases. Thus there are no plans to develop a programme specifically aimed at interpreters for the armed forces of Member States.
The EU has global programmes in place for the protection of human rights, including human rights defenders, funded through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). These include the EU Emergency Fund for Human Rights Defenders at Risk and the EU human rights defenders mechanism[2], which both provide crucial support to numerous Afghan human rights defenders in danger — including women who are particularly threatened — as well as the Human Rights Crisis Facility[3]. In addition, a number of EU programmes in Afghanistan specifically support democratic and accountable governance and the respect for human rights, including in the fields of justice and administrative reform[4].
- [1] Statement on continuation of assassinations, kidnappings and destruction of vital infrastructure of 31 January 2021 , https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/afghanistan/92350/statement-continuation-assassinations-kidnappings-and-destruction-vital-infrastructure_en .
- [2] ProtectDefenders.eu.
- [3] Action 2 Multi-Annual Action Programme 2018-2020 for the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
- [4] This includes the State and Resilience Building Contract, Incentivising Justice Sector Reform in Afghanistan, Support to Public Finance Management (PFM) Reform and Supporting Elections in Afghanistan.