Afghanistan - International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

Despite the Challenges, Donors Must Continue to Support Struggling Nonprofits in Afghanistan (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Lauren Mellows

Following the Taliban takeover, a large number of civil-society leaders, particularly women, were forced to flee the country, and a severe lack of funding and a repressive operating environment led many organizations to shut their doors.

What Happened in Afghanistan Isn’t Staying in Afghanistan (Common Dreams)

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Lauren Mellows

To prevent the forever war turning into war forever, instead of an arms race and trillion-dollar defense spending, now more than ever we need to stand for and practice the principles of universal human rights, justice, and pluralism.

August 31, 2022: ICAN marks one year since the US and NATO ended their chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Lauren Mellows

In the year since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, ICAN have advocated for and assisted in the relocation of approximately 200 families, issued rapid response grants comprising $590,000 to Afghan women-led peacebuilding organizations, and issued 17 individual grants totaling $36,000.

Afghanistan: Our Response

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Lauren Mellows

Our three-part response to the crisis in Afghanistan included advocacy to the international community, direct support to partners seeking evacuation and resettlement; and financial assistance to organizations and individuals inside Afghanistan.

Please Help Provide a Critical Lifeline to Afghan Women Peacebuilders this Spring

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Lauren Mellows

At ICAN, we rarely ask for individual donations but, these are unprecedented times. We need your help as we continue supporting our Afghan partners and their families.

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini Interview on Times Radio

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

ICAN Founder and CEO, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, talks to Darryl Morris for Times Radio about the Taliban’s latest directive, restricting Afghan women’s travel without a male relative chaperone, which she describes as “devastating, disappointing but honestly not surprising.”

Call for Female Heads of State to Protect our Afghan Colleagues and Sisters

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

The Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) and Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth (WMC) authored this letter to female heads of state on behalf of Afghan colleagues and sisters. The letter requests meetings with political leaders to ensure the protection of Afghan women, specifically with regard to issuing visas for resettlement, safeguarding human rights within country, upholding measures against forced marriage, and the inclusion of Afghan women in dialogue with the Taliban and the delivery of gender-responsive humanitarian aid.

Urgent Demand to Donors from the Feminist Action for Afghanistan

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

The Feminist Action for Afghanistan (FAA) in which ICAN participates is sending this letter to States, the UN agencies, and INGOs to keep the focus on the priority needs for Afghanistan and to ensure that Afghan women are absolutely present and shaping policy in these critical areas of concern.

Giving Tuesday: Please Support our Afghanistan Emergency Relief Fund

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

Several months have passed since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Though global media attention is dying down, the crisis continues and the risk faced by our partners increases with each passing day as the Taliban ramps up violence against Afghan civil society.

Following the fall of Kabul, we formed the Afghan Solidarity Coalition with a small band of NGOs, academics and others. Together, we are working to get our Afghan colleagues and families, around 2,000 in total, to safety.

On Giving Tuesday, please support our Afghanistan Emergency Relief Fund. See how your money can help save lives and futures and re-share to spread the word.

Queen’s Lecture 2021 by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE: Blueprint for Peace in C21st

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

“Those of us who live in peace take it for granted – it’s the invisible canvass upon which we paint and live our lives,” said Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE in her opening remarks for the annual 2021 Queen’s Lecture. “When we put ourselves in the shoes of others – see them as we see ourselves, – we are all the same – regardless of our culture or accident of geography.”

The annual lecture was founded by HM Queen Elizabeth II as a gift to the City of Berlin on the occasion of her state visit in 1965. Each year, a renowned British scientist delivers a lecture on their area of expertise. The Queen’s Lecture is a collaboration between Technical University Berlin, the British Embassy in Germany, and the British Council in Germany.

Sign-On: Action Points to Guarantee the Rights, Safety and Health of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Lauren Mellows

The international community needs to take urgent action to ensure Afghan women and girls across all ethnic and religious communities, in urban and rural areas, feel safe and have equal rights and opportunities to a life of dignity, peace, safety and justice.

To achieve this overarching goal, and to ensure that there is no regression in the context of the impending humanitarian crisis, we have stated four key outcomes and offered specific actions by international actors and specific actions by the Taliban.