Presentation of the new Terre des Hommes report “They do not see us as human beings – Why children from Afghanistan flee to Germany” in the French Church in Friedrichstadt.
With the Taliban's renewed takeover of power in 2021, the situation in Afghanistan has dramatically worsened, particularly for children and young people. At the same time, Afghanistan is currently the focus of debates in Germany, primarily concerning restrictive migration policies: humanitarian admissions from Afghanistan are being largely discontinued, deportation flights are being portrayed as political successes, and protection rates for asylum seekers from Afghanistan have recently plummeted. These measures contradict the experiences and accounts of children and young people from Afghanistan.
Following a brief presentation of the report, a panel discussion entitled "Why children flee Afghanistan: Realities on the ground and debates in Berlin" took place with:
• Parwana Amiri (activist and writer)
• Vincent op 't Roodt (co-author of the report)
• Trina Mansoor (writer and employee of a psychosocial center)
• Shahina Gambir (Member of Parliament, requested)
• Annette Fölster (lawyer, contacted)
The subsequent reception with Afghan delicacies provided an opportunity for exchange and networking. The evening was accompanied by an exhibition of paintings by Afghan female artists, part of the traveling exhibition "Hope in Darkness.".