The Circle of Legislators of the National Congress of Argentina and the School of Government of Universidad Austral organized a meeting on 23 August to discuss the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the role Argentina can play in supporting Afghan civilians. This meeting took place on the occasion of the visit of a US delegation to Buenos Aires led by former Congressman Briand Baird. The delegation included members of Operation Snow Leopard, organization committed to facilitating the continued safe evacuation and resettlement of high-risk Afghans including women leaders, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, interpreters, and other vulnerable minorities who have been left behind.
Prominent participants included: Mr. Daniel Basile, President of the Circle of Legislators; Ms. Cornelia Schmidt-Liermann, former MP and Chairwoman of the PGA National Group in Argentina; Sen. Lucila Crexell, current Chair of the PGA National Group in Argentina, and Dip. Nacional Graciela Camaño, vice-Chair of the PGA National Group in Argentina, who made herself available to take action on the situation in Afghanistan and expressed her solidarity with the Afghan people.
During this high-level exchange, PGA Member from Afghanistan, Hon. Mariam Solaimankhil, gave a powerful account of the situation on the ground and called on those present to do more for the Afghan people, especially women and children. As the Taliban increase their power over Afghanistan, if nothing is done including restoring women and girls’ rights, Hon. Solaimankhil warns of the potential increase of violent extremism in the region and elsewhere, which would carry serious implications for global security.
Ms. Melissa Verpile, Director of PGA’s Democratic Renewal and Human Rights Campaign, gave an overview of PGA’s actions to help raise awareness on the situation in the country, called for specific governmental and parliamentary actions, and reiterated the organization’s commitment to the Afghan people and the return to democracy.
Watch the event on “AFGANISTÁN: Desafío Humanitario” organized by the Circle of Legislators and Universidad Austral of Argentina, with the participation of PGA Members, Hon. Mariam Solaimankhail (Afghanistan) and Dip. Graciela Camaño (Argentina), and PGA’s Director of the DRHR Campaign, Ms. Melissa Verpile.
In addition to this event, Mr. Eduardo Valdez, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, and PGA Member, Dip. Margarita Stolbizer led the reception of a delegation of U.S. citizens working to provide humanitarian aid and response to Afghan citizens at risk or victims of human rights violations in Afghanistan since the takeover by the Taliban regime (view press release en español).
