France Urged to Recognize Afghan Women as Refugees

In France, activists are urging the government to provide systematic asylum to Afghan women and girls escaping the Taliban regime. This call comes after the arrival of the first group of female evacuees in Paris. While France recently flew in five women to apply for refugee status, thousands more are in search of safety. The group of five women, accompanied by three children, arrived in Paris from Pakistan, where they had sought refuge before securing permanent sanctuary.

These women held various roles as academics, journalists, teachers, and NGO consultants in Afghanistan. They shared how their lives took a tragic turn overnight when the Taliban seized control in August 2021, stripping them of their rights, including the right to work and study.

Despite the significant number of Afghan refugees, particularly women and girls, France has been relatively slow in processing asylum claims. To seek asylum in France, individuals typically must travel there to submit their claims, necessitating a visa from a French consulate, a process that has proven to be sluggish.

Didier Leschi, director of the French Office of Immigration and Integration, emphasizes France’s focus on aiding Afghan women at risk due to their prominent roles in Afghan society or close connections with Westerners. He suggests that similar airlifts for Afghan women in Pakistan may be repeated.

However, the efficacy of this change remains uncertain. Solène Chalvon Fioriti, co-founder of the NGO Accueillir les Afghanes (“Welcome Afghan Women”), hopes it marks the start of a feminist asylum policy that prioritizes Afghan women’s gender-based needs.

Currently, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are the only EU countries that have committed to granting refugee status to Afghan women and girls based solely on their gender. Nevertheless, the challenge persists in providing safe routes for them to reach France to file asylum claims. France Terre d’Asile, an NGO supporting Afghan asylum seekers, calls for the establishment of a formal process to ensure safe passage and comprehensive support for Afghan women throughout their journey to France.

Re-reported from the article originally published in RFI by Jessica Phelan