Write to President Karzai to call on him to protect Women Human Rights Defenders and ensure that they are able to carry out their vital work, without fear of violence and intimidation.
Refer to the model letter below to write letters in English, Dari or Pashtu, or in your own language and addressed to:
President Hamid Karzai
Presidential Palace
Dear President Karzai
Re: Protect Women Human Rights Defenders in
As you may know, 8 March marks the International Women’s Day. In honouring this important anniversary, I am writing to urge you to support the work of Women Human Rights Defenders in
The October 2001 US-led international intervention in
In many instances women human rights defenders have faced death threats and kidnapping attempts against themselves and their families, as well as physical attacks, including acid attacks. Tragically some, like the journalist Zakia Zaki in 2007, have been killed for raising their voices, while others have fled the country.
I urge you to support the work of Human Rights Defenders and, in particular, take the following steps to:
- promote and implement the principles in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), including the right to communicate views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- ensure that Human Rights Defenders are able to discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance of all human rights and draw public attention to these matters without fear of persecution or punishment;
- ensure that Human Rights Defenders benefit from an effective remedy in the event of violation of their rights and are protected by law and in practice;
- promote public awareness of the role and work of Human Rights Defenders;
- promote awareness among police and other officials of the role and work of Women Human Rights Defenders, including by providing appropriate training to police and other state officials;
- establish a national plan for the promotion and protection of human rights, including both civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights, and emphasizing their universality and indivisibility, and the role and work of Human Rights Defenders, in line with commitments enshrined in the Afghanistan Compact.
Thank you, in anticipation, for your attention to such an important issue.
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