In August 2021, as Kabul fell to the Taliban, our small organization the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) received hundreds of desperate text messages, phone calls, and emails from Afghan women peacebuilders, journalists, lawyers, government employees, and women in the security sector. We became a de facto hub for over 2500 people at risk, facilitating safe houses in Afghanistan, providing livelihood support and, where possible, supporting evacuation and resettlement. One year later we have not stopped.

In the year since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, we have:

Advocated for and assisted in the relocation of approximately 200 families, consisting of over 1000 people.
Issued rapid response grants comprising $590,000 to Afghan women-led peacebuilding organizations to cover organizational needs and facilitate humanitarian support, relocation for staff, program beneficiaries, and community members.
Issued 17 individual grants totaling $36,000 to support humanitarian and protection needs.

ICAN Forum 2022 WASL Interview Series

To mark one year since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, we released the first two episodes of the #ICANForum22 Interview Series with Afghan members of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL): Mahbouba Seraj and Hassina Neekzad. These interviews were recorded in June, 2022 at ICAN’s 9th Women, Peace and Security Forum: Reclaiming Power, Restoring Peace.

Ep 1 #ICANForum22 Interview Series: Mahbouba Seraj with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Malalai Habibi

Ep 2 #ICANForum22 Interview Series: Hassina Neekzad with Malalai Habibi

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE on CGTN America

ICAN’s Founder and CEO, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE appeared on CGTN America’s The Heat program on 16 August, alongside Ambassador Omar Samad, the former Afghan Ambassador to France and Canada; Ahmad Shah Mohibi, Founder and President of Rise to Peace; and Benjamin Norton, an investigative journalist.

The Heat: One year since the Taliban took Kabul

Upcoming:

On Wednesday 7 September, 18.30-20.30 BST, three groups supporting vulnerable individuals to exit Afghanistan and resettle in the UK – Action for Afghanistan, Azadi Charity and Sulha Alliance – will co-host an event in the UK Parliament, Afghanistan Exit One Year On: Panel Discussion on the Challenges Ahead. ICAN’s founder and CEO, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE will speak on the panel alongside UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett, Tom Tugendhat MP, Fawzia Koofi, and others.