The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that female judges and prosecutors in Afghanistan, who have stood for the rule of law and a more inclusive and equal Afghanistan, are now deeply concerned for their own safety; further that they live with daily death threats and in constant fear of violent reprisals; and further that female judges and prosecutors, their children and their families are at continued risk of violent attacks.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to immediately help evacuate and resettle female judges and prosecutors, and their families from Afghanistan by providing emergency visas urgently.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Wera Hobhouse, Official Report, 9 May 2023; Vol. 732, c. 311.]
[P002830]
The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that female judges and prosecutors in Afghanistan, who have stood for the rule of law and a more inclusive and equal Afghanistan, are now deeply concerned for their own safety; further that they live with daily death threats and in constant fear of violent reprisals; and further that female judges and prosecutors, their children and their families are at continued risk of violent attacks.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to immediately help evacuate and resettle female judges and prosecutors, and their families from Afghanistan by providing emergency visas urgently.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Joanna Cherry, Official Report, 3 May 2023; Vol. 732, c. 172.]
[P002832]
Observation from the Minister for Immigration (Robert Jenrick):
We have the utmost concern and sympathy for the situation that many individuals, including female judges and prosecutors, find themselves in due to their work in standing up for human rights and the rule of law in Afghanistan. This is one of the key reasons why the Government made generous resettlement offers under the Afghan schemes.
To date, nearly 24,600 people affected by events in Afghanistan have been brought to safety in the UK. This includes British nationals and their families, Afghans who loyally served the UK and others identified as particularly at-risk, such as female judges and women’s rights activists.
The UK remains committed to the people of Afghanistan by continuing to operate safe and legal routes for those affected by the events in Afghanistan to come to the United Kingdom: the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). These routes have been designed to be fair in identifying those most in need of relocation and resettlement.
We recognise that there are many vulnerable individuals who remain in Afghanistan and the wider region. Unfortunately, the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited and difficult decisions about who will be prioritised have to be made.