By Rukhshana Media
A group of Afghan women parliamentarians and Senators have launched the Afghan Women’s Parliament in Exile in Athens, the group announced today.
The Afghan Women’s Parliament in Exile, which includes 41% of Afghan women MPs and Senators, will work “to mobilize support for their compatriots left behind under Taliban rule, to support the resettlement of Afghan refugees around the world, and to continue to advocate for the protection of women’s and girls’ rights,” according to a press release issued by Mina’s List, a US-based non-profit which funds the initiative.
The Afghan Women’s Parliament in Exile will continue their work from abroad.
Nazifa Yousufi Bek, who represented northern Takhar province in the Afghan parliament, is one of the founders of the Afghan Women’s Parliament in Exile.
“Our work is not done. We were elected by the Afghan people to represent them,” Bek is quoted as saying in the press release. “Our people, especially women and girls, and those living in poverty, are facing a severe humanitarian crisis and a crackdown on their rights by the Taliban. We will continue to serve them wherever we are,” she added.
Mina’s List, the NGO which funded the initiative, has worked in Afghanistan since 2014 to promote women’s political representation and participation.
The Afghan female MPs and Senators who are currently in Greece on a six months visa are expecting to be resettled in the United States, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, and Canada.
