The German government's Afghanistan resettlement program does not meet requirements
Osnabrück, October 17, 2022 – The international children's rights organization terre des hommes welcomes the fact that the German government has finally adopted a resettlement program for particularly vulnerable people in Afghanistan today. However, it comes considerably late, 14 months after the Taliban seized power, and falls far short of meeting all requirements.
“We are relieved that the federal resettlement program for Afghanistan was approved today. It can offer a safe route to Germany for people who are particularly at risk due to their work for women's, children's, and human rights in Afghanistan. The program can also be a solution in individual cases for women and girls who are persecuted because of their gender. However, we had expected that children would be recognized as a separate vulnerable group within the federal resettlement program,” explained Beat Wehrle, spokesperson for terre des hommes .
Especially in Afghanistan, child-specific persecution such as forced marriage and forced recruitment is omnipresent. terre des hommes currently sees no chance that these child-specific threats will lead to the admission of boys. Girls who, for example, face forced marriage to a member of the Taliban will also find it difficult to be admitted. This is because, as with other vulnerable groups, their admission is limited to individuals who experience specific violence or persecution due to particular circumstances of their case – a restriction that is not applied in cases of work-related risks.
terre des hommes welcomes the fact that people outside the immediate family can also be admitted, but criticizes the program's design. Up to 1,000 people are to be admitted per month. A prerequisite is that the case is submitted by an authorized German non-governmental organization. Individuals at risk cannot apply directly.
“The resettlement program is being stretched out over many months instead of bringing as many people to safety as quickly as possible in light of the waves of searches and increasing threats. Those without contacts with German non-governmental organizations authorized to register their cases will have a particularly difficult time. However, vulnerability and risk should be the deciding factors, not good contacts,” criticized Beat Wehrle. “Ultimately, the admission of up to 1,000 people per month is far too low given the perilous situation in Afghanistan and the number of people still waiting there. Only a very small number of people in concrete danger will actually have the opportunity to find protection in Germany through this program.”