Osnabrück/Berlin, September 19, 2025 – On the occasion of World Children's Day on September 20 Terre des Hommes is drawing attention to the dangers faced by children and young people in Afghanistan and emphasizing Germany's responsibility to protect them. The newly published report, "They Don't See Us as Human Beings – Why Children from Afghanistan Flee to Germany," provides information on the current situation regarding children's rights in Afghanistan and gives a voice to children and young people from Afghanistan who have had to seek refuge in Germany.
For example, Najib*, now eighteen, speaks about the forced recruitment of young people by the Taliban in his hometown: “Everyone knew what that meant: They force you to work for them as a fighter, or worse – they abuse and rape you.” Chakawak*, now nineteen, on the other hand, fled from a forced marriage to a Taliban member, which her own father wanted to force upon her: “He said I was a disgrace to the family and to all women in Afghanistan. Because I don’t obey the Taliban. Because I want to live freely.”
Joshua Hofert, spokesperson for the board of Terre des Hommes , commented: “With the Taliban’s renewed takeover of power in 2021, the situation in the country has deteriorated dramatically, especially for children and young people. The report vividly illustrates why children are forced to flee Afghanistan. But instead of providing aid in light of this reality, as originally promised, the German government is largely halting resettlement programs for particularly vulnerable people from Afghanistan. Even families with promises of resettlement from Germany are currently waiting desperately in Pakistan; some have already been deported back to Afghanistan. This is utterly cynical and inhumane, considering what children, young people, and adults in Afghanistan are suffering.”
The stories of these young people demonstrate the crucial importance of safe pathways for escape, such as resettlement programs or family reunification, given the immense dangers faced by children and young people in Afghanistan. "Instead of negotiating deportations to Afghanistan with the Taliban, the German government should advocate for fair asylum procedures and consider the specific reasons children flee. We demand safe pathways to Germany so that children can receive lasting protection and participate fully in society," said Hofert.
The report “They don’t see us as human beings – Why children from Afghanistan flee to Germany” is available https://www.tdh.de/warum-kinder-aus-afghanistan-nach-deutschland-fliehen
*To protect the young people, pseudonyms are used in the report.